Junior Achievement of Central Maryland

Junior Achievement of Central Maryland’s (JA) mission is to inspire and prepare young people to succeed in the global economy. JA is committed to equipping young people with the knowledge and skills needed to take charge of their financial well-being, strategize for their futures, and make informed academic and economic decisions. JA's programs—in the core content areas of career readiness, entrepreneurship, and financial literacy— inspire Maryland youth to discover and embrace the wide range of opportunities within their reach. Our goal is to enable and empower the next generation of innovators across Baltimore—enhancing their career readiness skills, helping them explore diverse professional pathways, and inspiring them to dream a vibrant vision for their future. JA's learning experiences emphasize real-world relevance by connecting classroom learning to practical applications. Students engage in immersive hands-on activities designed to help them understand how the concepts they learn can be applied in the real world.

JA offers a continuum of learning for K-12 students that aligns with The Blueprint for Maryland’s Future. JA delivers robust yet age-appropriate curriculum, building from introductory concepts in the early grades through in-depth business concepts for older students. Beginning in elementary school, JA provides financial education programs that build an understanding of finance concepts for our youngest students. Building on that foundational knowledge, in middle school, JA begins to engage with students more directly around personal finance, budgeting and savings. As students more through JA’s programming, high school programs focus on entrepreneurship, the application of business concepts, and skills necessary for college/career. Through this model of relevant, authentic learning opportunities, JA is strengthening the workforce pipeline with financially responsibly youth who are more adequately prepared for the demands of the modern workplace.