JA Finance Park & JA Finance Park Virtual
Capital One / Junior Achievement Finance Park helps students build a foundation upon which they can make intelligent financial decisions that last a lifetime, including decisions related to income, expenses, savings, and credit.
The JA Finance Park program is composed of 13 teacher-taught, in-class lessons. It culminates in a hands-on budgeting simulation that is implemented either at a JA Finance Park facility or virtually. Additional extension activities are available for each lesson topic. Lessons are offered in a traditional classroom presentation format designed for middle-grade students, and in a Project-Based Learning (PBL) format created for high school students. Both provide educators a method of delivery that will best meet the needs of their students. (Grades 7-12)
The JA Finance Park simulation puts students in the shoes of a real adult by giving them a randomized “life." Each “life” consists of a career, a salary, a family, a credit score, and more. Volunteers and JA staff work with the students throughout the simulation to guide them through the process of creating a monthly budget.
Plus, new for 2020: JA Finance Park Advanced, a brand-new, in-depth program specifically designed for high school students.
Want to learn more about JA Finance Park and JA Finance Park Virtual? Click here to view the program brief from JA USA.
Interested in bringing JA Finance Park or JA Finance Park Virtual to your classroom? Looking for volunteer opportunities? Visit the Request A Program page, contact an Impact Manager, or click the button below!
JA Finance Park Simulation
Teens don’t often think about paying a water bill, buying health insurance, or saving for retirement, but at JA Finance Park they do. The daylong visit to this simulated, fully interactive business park brings their in-class learning to life.
Students receive family scenarios, complete with job title, marital and family status, income, existing savings, and existing debt. Then they visit park businesses to explore their options and better understand the items based on their assigned family needs and then go shopping. They must purchase items to meet the needs of their family, such as insurance, clothing, transportation, housing, groceries, and childcare—without spending more than they earn.
JA Finance Park Virtual
During this hands-on, computer-based simulation, students are asked to manage a fictitious life situation. The details of their assigned life scenario include marital status, number of children, education background, employment, and income.
Given their career and family situation, students use banking services; pay for housing, transportation, utilities, groceries, and health care; contribute to charities; and budget for education expenses. They work to create and balance a personal family budget.
