Junior Achievement
Exchange City Scholarships
Exchange City was created in 1980 in response to concerns expressed by employers and community leaders that students lacked the basic understanding of government, economics and skills needed for future roles in the workplace.
Exchange City is a hands-on learning program that combines an eight-week classroom curriculum with an interactive government and free-enterprise laboratory. Students learn and apply rigorous academic standards in math, civics, social studies, language arts and technology in real-life roles as citizens of their very own mini-town.
In 1994, the first Exchange City license was granted to Junior Achievement of Central Indiana, Inc. Since that date, more than 26 licensees have been granted in 16 states. There are currently 21 Exchange Cities operating nationally and serving approximately 150,000 young people.
Learn More about Exchange City
Scholarship Endowment to JA BizTown® and JA Finance Park™
In recent years students have demonstrated an alarming decrease in their understanding of basic economic principles. Additionally, employers report widespread decline in basic employment skills and government reports give further evidence of the diminishing ability among young people to manage personal finances.
JA BizTown
JA BizTown is a creative hands-on program designed to respond to employer and community leader concerns that students lacked the basic understanding of the economics and life skills needed for future roles in the workplace. The program combines a four-week classroom curriculum with a state-of-the art interactive free enterprise laboratory located in Louisville. The JA BizTown experience helps students learn and apply rigorous academic standards in math, civics, social studies, language arts and technology as 5th grade students play real life roles as citizens of their very own mini town. The school district will send about 950 students per year through this program.
JA Finance Park
JA Finance Park is a month-long economics education program that introduces personal financial planning and career exploration to 8th grade students. Classroom teachers deliver financial literacy basics during a four-week period, then students visit JA Finance Park to put into practice what they’ve learned about economic options and the principles of budgeting. Assisted by their teachers and a staff of trained volunteers, they have the opportunity to actually develop and commit to a personal budget. About 925 New Albany-Floyd students will participate in this program each year.
The scholarship endowment to JA BizTown and JA Finance Park will provide a permanent fund that will be invested. The earnings from that fund will provide opportunities for all NA-FC 5th and 8th grade students to participate in these valuable hands-on programs.