Junior Achievement Inc. is a not-for-profit organization financed by businesses, foundations, and individuals. The purpose of Junior Achievement (JA) is to educate and inspire young people to value free enterprise, business, and economics to improve the quality of their lives. Since its founding in 1919, Junior Achievement has contributed to the business and economics education of your people throughout the world.

The Middle Grades Program encompasses economics and business curricula for students in grades six through eight. JA programs are designed to help students assess their personal skill and interests, understand the economic benefits of education, explore career options, learn job-hunting skills, and practice personal and family financial management. Our programs introduce students to the principal characteristics of economic systems and the role of business within those systems. In addition, students learn how they are connected, through trade, to people and cultures around the world.

Junior Achievement uses hands-on experiences to help young people understand the economics of life. JA Finance Park is a simulated community where students build a foundation for making intelligent financial decisions throughout their lives. The students visit an off site location where they are able to spend the day using the skills they learned in the classroom.

For more information on JA's Middle Grades Programs, visit JA online at www.ja.org.