Audit and tax firm KPMG and Junior Achievement USA (JA) recently unveiled a redeveloped digital curriculum—complete with new technology and software—for the JA Finance Park program, as a means of increasing financial literacy in middle and high school students.
The month-long, entirely paperless curriculum allows students to engage in real-world financial activities, such as online banking and paying bills via tablet PCs, while being introduced to concepts like insurance, credit, and long-term investments. The program also offers real-world simulations in which students are assigned a salary, interact with merchants, and can make payments via issued debit cards.
"KPMG volunteers serve thousands of hours each year working with students through Junior Achievement's various programs," stated Kathy Hopinkah Hannan, national managing partner for diversity and corporate responsibility at KPMG. "By supporting JA in the redevelopment of their curriculum, we can better prepare students for financial success through technology they've become accustomed to using on a daily basis. Our relationship with JA is important and part of KPMG's strategy to support education from early childhood through the post-graduate level in order to help develop the diverse talent pool needed for tomorrow's workforce."
TheJA Finance Parkprogram, founded in 2003, has been funded by a multi-year commitment from the KPMG Foundation. Over 1 million students in the United States have completed the program since its inception.
Watch the preview for the newJA Finance Parkprogram below:
