| Future Ready Stoughton Students - 2025 |
Amount Funded: $1,000.00 |
| The purpose of this project is to partner with the Stoughton Area School District to bring Junior Achievements vital, hands-on financial literacy, work readiness, and entrepreneurship programs directly into 2nd and 5th-grade classrooms during the 2025-26 school year.
Implementation will begin in August 2025 with the recruitment and training of local community volunteers. These volunteers will be equipped to deliver five 45-minute lessons in each registered classroom throughout the school year, seamlessly integrating with the existing curriculum at times scheduled directly with Stoughton teachers. This direct partnership model ensures our programs help to fill in curriculum gaps while providing specialized, real-world content delivered by engaged community members.
The success of this partnership will be measured through post-program surveys completed by teachers and volunteers, providing direct feedback on student engagement and how effectively the lessons supplemented the district’s curriculum.
The powerful, proven impact of this educational partnership is what makes it a critical investment. National surveys of JA Alumni (adults who had JA as students) demonstrate the lasting effect of these programs: they earn 20% more than the general public, are 2.5 times more likely to start a business, and 86% report that JA had a significantly positive effect on their self-confidence and life choices. By partnering with us to educate Stoughton students today, we are collectively empowering a future generation of capable, confident, and economically engaged community leaders.
Furthermore, the success of these elementary programs is generating excitement for the future. We have received enthusiastic interest from several key community members and educators connected to Stoughton High School who see great value in expanding this educational partnership to include our Future Ready and workforce development curricula for older students. This potential next phase would introduce advanced in-classroom programming and could provide students the opportunity to participate in hands-on JA events in Dane County, such as the JA Titan Business Challenge and The Stock Market Challenge, where many peer schools compete. This grant to sustain our elementary-level programming is the critical step in continuing to build a comprehensive K-12 pathway of financial literacy learning in Stoughton. |
| This grant request for $1,000 will directly fund Junior Achievement programs for 2nd and 5th graders in Stoughton schools during the 2025-26 school year. These programs, delivered by trained local volunteers at the invitation of classroom teachers, provide critical, age-appropriate lessons about financial literacy, business, and civics.
JA Our Community (2nd Grade) uses interactive posters and simulation games to teach students about the businesses and jobs in a community. Students explore production methods, learn about taxes and decision-making, and understand how money flows in a local economy.
JA Our Nation (5th Grade) provides students with practical information about the nations free market system. It introduces the need for entrepreneurial and innovative thinking to meet the requirements of high-growth careers and the concept of globalization.
This project will directly impact over 100 Stoughton residents—the 100 students who participate, their teachers, and the local volunteers who teach the JA curricula. We estimate approximately 500 hours of volunteer time will be donated to deliver these Stoughton programs.
Stoughton teachers have consistently requested JA programs for over seven years. Our programs are a proven investment that supplements the school curriculum with essential, real-world learning, setting the foundation for students to plan for their future, prepare for self-sustaining careers, and become engaged citizens. |
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