What students learn as consumers or customers: To balance their professional and personal responsibilities. To account for business expenses and still take in enough money to make a profit. To responsibly manage staff, financial resources, inventories and customers. What students learn as members of a business team: As CEOs, CFOs, Ad Executives, Bank Tellers, Video Game Coders, Graphic Designers to name just a few of the exciting job opportunities in JA BizTown, students take on the role of a business team member in addition to participating in the BizTown economy as a consumer during their lunch and shopping breaks. Classroom preparation also encompasses career exploration, applying for a job, and job interviews.Ī trip to JA BizTown is an exhilarating 4 1/2 hour simulated workday experience for students as they immerse themselves in the role of a JA BizTown citizen for the day.

Students participating in the JA BizTown program complete lessons taught in the classroom in preparation to run a business and manage their personal and business finances. They may get a paycheck, but for many of the kids, BizTown is a reality check into how the real world works.JA BizTown is an 8,000 square foot mini-city housing a variety of business storefronts. “The purpose of balancing a checkbook is so that you don’t overrun your account and you’re not bankrupt and you know how much money you have in your account,” student Nolen Armstrong said. They learn how to endorse a paycheck, fill out a deposit slip, and keep a bank account balanced with enough cash. Students have jobs in BizTown and get paid. Fifth- and sixth-grade students learn simple but essential things like writing a check, balancing a checkbook, and how a debit card works. Junior Achievement brings kids to BizTown at its York office.

“The students get two paychecks during the day and they are told to keep track of their spending as they shop in the town,” said Kim McGowan, the director of BizTown. It has a bank, restaurant, city hall and even a TV station. That’s why Junior Achievement of South Central Pennsylvania created BizTown. (WHTM) – In this high-tech digital world, some wonder if we are neglecting to teach our kids the basics.

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