Junior Achievement and Taco Bell Foundation Launch Financial Literacy Partnership to Prepare Teens for Graduation and the Workforce

by | 10/26/14 | Commentary, News, Uncategorized

In a sweeping move aimed at increasing graduation rates among high school students and best preparing them to enter the workforce, Junior Achievement and Taco Bell Foundation are joining forces to teach young people financial literacy skills and job readiness strategies designed to arm them with the tools they need to be most successful in their professional and financial endeavors.

As a key element of the partnership, Junior Achievement will expand the JA Career Success program, which exposes young people to career exploration opportunities and fosters effective job training, through a grant from the Taco Bell Foundation. Among the thirteen Junior Achievement areas that will initially be supported by this development are the cities of Los Angeles, Cincinnati, Chicago, Toledo, El Paso, Charleston, Louisville, Medford, Lexington and Colorado Springs.

Industry observers are pointing to some unique elements of the program that are exemplary, including its anticipated interactive curriculum that not only educates students on vital job preparation proficiencies, such as effective job search strategies and interview training, but also engages and inspires the youth in the interactive manner in which they are most comfortable communicating.

This alliance brings together two powerful forces that have long supported the common mission of preparing young people for both educational and personal finance success. In addition to Junior Achievement’s longtime work in this area, the Taco Bell Foundation also has an important track record of success. Its Teens' Graduate for Mas program, for example, challenges young people to commit a personal promise to graduate high school through a digital platform, which provides registered teens a broad range of resources and positive inspiration they need to succeed. Junior Achievement will be partnering with the Foundation to add the Graduate for Mas program, enhance the JA Career Success initiative, and assist in raising graduation rates among high school students.

The financial education community is lauding Junior Achievement and the Taco Bell Foundation for their inventiveness and progressive approach, while asserting that their efforts should bode well for participating students in the months and years ahead.

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