Junior Achievement (JA) is a global nonprofit founded in 1919, empowering students with skills in financial literacy, work readiness, and entrepreneurship. Through partnerships with schools and businesses, JA connects classroom learning to real-world applications, preparing students for success in the global economy.

In 2017, Marshalltown Community School District partnered with JA, focusing on grades K-5. Volunteers conduct five lessons, with all materials and training provided, to help bring these essential programs to life. This year, we need 93 dedicated volunteers to support our K-5 classrooms.

Since 2017, Junior Achievement has expanded to serve all students from Kindergarten through ninth grade. Sixth graders experience a capstone day at JA BizTown in Des Moines, while seventh graders participate in It’s My Future, learning job-hunting and personal branding skills. Eighth graders take part in Finance Park, a curriculum that culminates in a field trip to JA in Des Moines, teaching smart financial decision-making, and ninth graders engage in a one-semester course, JA Financial Literacy, focusing on foundational personal finance skills.