JA Finance Park FAQs
Frequently Asked Questions
- What is JA Finance Park?
Taking students into the real-world perspective of finance, JA Finance Park is a four-week financial literacy education program that introduces personal financial planning and career exploration. It is designed to be taught to middle school students by classroom teachers. High schools students also benefit from this program through an abbreviated classroom curriculum. At the culmination of this program, 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, students have the opportunity to immerse themselves into the real life experience of developing and sticking to a personal budget. - Where is JA Finance Park?
Junior Achievement-Rocky Mountain, Inc. created a touring financial literacy experience, JA Finance Park, which can move throughout Metro Denver and northern Colorado to ensure broad accessibility of the program. Now through Nov. 19, JA Finance Park is located in the Wells Fargo Atrium at 1740 Broadway in downtown Denver. In January, the Park will relocate to American Furniture Warehouse in Thornton at 8501 Grant, where it will operate through the end of the 2011/2012 school year. - How long does it take to teach the JA Finance Park curriculum?
The curriculum for middle schools students is completed in approximately 19 hours and includes six classroom units. Two of those are delivered after the students finish their day at JA Finance Park. These units are delivered by teachers over approximately four weeks. Teachers will receive the curriculum and a guide to help plan their teaching schedule. High school classes are not required to complete the in-class curriculum to schedule a visit to the Park. - How much does it cost to visit JA Finance Park?
Junior Achievement-Rocky Mountain, Inc. strives to provide tools to support Colorado teachers in fulfilling mandatory personal financial literacy state standards in the classroom. Therefore, we are proud to offer the entire JA Finance Park program at no cost to students or schools thanks to our generous sponsors who have underwritten the $42 per student cost to operate JA Finance Park. A refundable deposit of $250 is required at the time of booking. The deposit will only be cashed in the event the school cancels its visit less than 30 days prior to their arrival date. - How many students can visit JA Finance Park?
In order to provide the best possible experience at JA Finance Park, a minimum of 60 students is necessary. The Park can hold a maximum of 150 students. Our program staff can partner your class with a class from another school if you are unable to meet the minimum requirement. Please call 303.260.6285 or email JLIB_HTML_CLOAKING for questions about scheduling your class for a JA Finance Park visit. - Is there required training for teachers?
Yes. Teachers presenting the full JA Finance Park curriculum must participate in a 1.5 hour teacher training held at your school at a time convenient for you. High school teachers should complete an abbreviated training for Unit 4 for the JA Finance Park curriculum. In addition to the curriculum, teachers also receive a comprehensive Guide for Teachers that contains all the information you need to successfully deliver the curriculum to students. JA also provides student workbooks and other materials necessary for the entire program. - I work at/attend a private school. Can I still participate in JA Finance Park?
JA Finance Park is available to all middle and high school students in Metro Denver and northern Colorado. Our staff can help coordinate a visit or partner you with another group. Please call 303-260-6285 or email JLIB_HTML_CLOAKING for more information. - What will my students get out of participating in JA Finance Park?
Not only does the JA Finance Park fulfill state-mandated Personal Financial Literacy learning outcomes for math and social studies, it also aligns with the 21st century skills and concepts incorporated in the new economics, math and reading, writing and communication standards. Following participation in the program students will be able to:- Identify services that financial institutions provide
- Explain the costs and benefits of using credit
- Understand the risks and benefits of saving and investing
- Develop and use personal financial management skills such as reading stock quotations, determining stock valve and using different payment methods
- Learn about federal, state and local taxes as well as Social Security and Medicare contributions
- Examine and calculate gross and net monthly income
- Identify the components of a budget and implement budgeting procedures
- Apply mathematical skills to income analysis, spending and saving plans and investment decisions
- Explore career options and match them to personal abilities, interests, work preferences and values as well as conduct research on the education levels required for different jobs
- Are there volunteer opportunities for JA Finance Park?
JA needs around 20 adult role models each day students visit the Park. Volunteers will spend five hours at JA Finance Park; one hour training and four hours volunteering. Volunteers help students through the budgeting process by sharing their own life experiences and also monitor students to ensure their continued progress throughout the day. School teachers and JA staff members will always be on hand to assist as needed. Sign up online [insert hyperlink: http://www.jacolorado.org/index.php/component/rsform/form/4-volunteer-interest-form?view=rsform] or email JLIB_HTML_CLOAKING to become a JA Finance Park volunteer and help lead the way to financial literacy. - What is the schedule of events for a visit to JA Finance Park?
8:00 a.m. - Volunteers arrive
9:00 a.m. - Students and Teachers arrive
9:10-9:25 a.m. - Opening and General Information
9:25-10:10 a.m. - The Truth Revealed (Students report to their place of business and learn their life situation, compute their Net Monthly Income (NMI) worksheet and compute budget guidelines)
10:10-11:25 a.m. - The Big Search (Students receive bank codes for housing and transportation expenditures, collect budget options from each business and acquire an investment portfolio)
Student Lunch Schedule- 10:10-10:35 Group A
- 10:35-11:00 Group B
- 11:00-11:25 Group C
11:25-12:25 p.m. - The Budget Puzzle (Students report to their place of business to study budget options, make their final budget decisions based on their budget guidelines and collected options, complete their actual budget and record “midday” stock prices )
12:25-1:15 p.m. - The Final Commitment (Students finalize decisions by making all payments and record “closing” stock prices )
1:15-1:30 p.m. - Closing (Students participate in cleanup and recap)
1:30 p.m. - Students Depart - What if we need to cancel our visit?
Please notify JA-Rocky Mountain immediately at 303-534-5252, if you need to cancel your scheduled visit to JA Finance Park. Cancellations received less than 30 days prior to your visit will result in a $250 fee (collected at time of booking). This deposit will be returned to you if cancellations are received 30 days or more before your visit.