JA Igniting the American Spirit

In 2010, JA-Rocky Mountain launched an exciting three-year demonstration project, Igniting the American Spirit. The project will serve as a potential national model for expanding students' knowledge of free enterprise and their knowledge of personal financial literacy. To start, JA will saturate five low-income, K-12 feeder systems in Adams 12, Aurora, DPS, Englewood and Sheridan with all of JA’s programs and will provide unprecedented training resources, both for teachers and volunteers. We will show that students participating in this project will do as well, or better than, higher income students on state-mandated testing in personal financial literacy, and will have better attitudes and behaviors toward staying in school than their peers.

Click here to view the 2010/2011 project outcomes.

Each of the districts has a demonstrable need, virtually no financial resources and, most importantly, a strong desire to have their students excel in the classroom and on state-mandated tests. Conversely, JA has delivered free enterprise and economic education programs in Colorado since 1950; is currently reaching 100,000 students; has a ready-to-deliver curriculum, and a proven track record of identifying volunteers and placing them in classrooms; and offers its program to districts, schools and students at no cost.

Led by JA, Igniting the American Spirit is a collaborative effort with other notable and effective non-profits such as Colorado Council on Economic Education, Young Americans for Financial Literacy, and the Public Education and Business Coalition.

Schools Currently Participating in the Ignite Project

Adams 12

Thornton High School
Leroy Drive Elementary School
Stellar Elementary School
Stukey Elementary School
Coronado Hills Elementary School
McElwain Elementary School
Thornton Elementary School

Aurora Public Schools

Gateway High School
Vista Peak Campus K-9
Century Elementary School
Iowa Elementary School
Virginia Court Elementary School
Wheeling Elementary School
Clyde Miller Elementary School
Elkhart Elementary School
Sable Elementary School
Park Lane Elementary School

Denver Public Schools

Abraham Lincoln High School
Kepner Middle School
Grant Middle School
Castro Elementary School
Doull Elementary School
Godsman Elementary School
Goldrick Elementary School
Johnson Elementary School
Munroe Elementary School
Charles M. Schenck (CMS) Elementary School
Schmitt Elementary School
College View Elementary School
Gust Elementary School

Englewood School District

Englewood High School
Englewood Middle School
Cherrelyn Elementary School
Clayton Elementary School
Bishop Elementary School

Sheridan School District

Sheridan High School
Sheridan Middle School
Fort Logan Elementary School