JA’s Virtual Finance Park Version 2.0 for High School

JA Finance Park is a teacher-led classroom curriculum that introduces students to personal financial planning and career exploration. The program culminates with volunteer engagement during a visit to JA Finance Park, a realistic on-site or mobile facility, where students practice what they’ve learned by developing a personal budget. The high school, or advanced, curriculum and simulation is a more personal focus for students. Students select their career and define their future lifestyle and financial goals. The simulation allows students to see the long-term impact of their education, savings, and credit decisions

Program Highlights

• Advanced curriculum geared toward high school students who have had some previous introduction to personal finance content

• Eight required foundation sessions and multiple optional extension activities of various lengths  which may be implemented in class or assigned for student self-guided use

• Teacher-led, blended format with optional self-guided or homework activities

• Students may submit assignments electronically if they have access to

  technology, or the class may be implemented in projection mode and assignments completed on paper.

• Advanced on-site simulation delves into financial consequences of life choices and decisions impacting long-term goals.

• Advanced on-site simulation engages students to choose their own adult adventure and select a persona based on career and education choices; students navigate financial decisions through various life stages, budgeting beyond 1 month.

• Advanced on-site simulation will include volunteers participating as mentors during the simulation

Section Themes

• Employment and Income

• Employment and Education

• Financial Responsibility and Decision Making

• Planning and Money Management

• Risk Management and Insurance

• Investing

• Simulation

• Debrief