Junior Achievement of Central Iowa plans to pilot a financial literacy program in the fall for eighth- and ninth-grade students in Central Iowa. 

The program, called JA Finance Park, is a natural progression for Junior Achievement and fills a significant need for financial literacy education, said Nick Colletti, president of Junior Achievement of Central Iowa. 

“This is the first major programming addition since 2001 when JA Biztown opened up,” Colletti said. “And it is an absolutely logical progression. We’re going toward what is absolutely needed in our community.” 

The program will be offered initially to one junior high school in Des Moines and one in West Des Moines, and then offered to schools on a wider basis beginning in January. The specific pilot schools have not yet been identified. 

“We’re especially proud that we’re delivering this program where the need is greatest,” Colletti said, noting that 73 percent of students in the Des Moines public schools are on the free or reduced-price lunch program. 

Each participating class must complete approximately 20 hours of classroom study before going to the daylong session that must be completed before they arrive at the JA Biztown facility where the program will be offered. 

JA Finance Park, which is a national Junior Achievement program, also provides information on career preparation, said Colletti, who observed sessions in Minneapolis. For instance, students speak to parent volunteers at stations to discuss what it takes to get degrees or training in various careers and what they can expect to earn in those careers. 

“They do a real deep dive in understanding careers,” he said. “We think work and career readiness and financial literacy are tightly tied together. Not every student is going to go on to a four-year degree. Here in Des Moines there is a real need for students to go into the trades; that is a viable path, and we want them to be ready for those kinds of careers as well.” 

Businesses can get involved by donating, and two companies — Businessolver Inc. and John Deere Financial — have already provided contributions. 

“Creating financially literate young adults is vitally important,” said Brooke Knight, a Businessolver senior vice president and lead for the Businessolver Foundation. “There is no formal education in personal finance — anywhere. We know that by working with Junior Achievement, we’re helping empower and educate our future workforce.”

Individual volunteers will be needed as well, Colletti said. “Many people are contacting us asking how they can be involved. The volunteer piece matters a lot.”