Junior Achievement representatives briefed the Davenport Community School District board on the organization’s K–12 programs and recent participation data, saying the program remains a core partner for career exploration and financial-literacy instruction across elementary, middle and high schools.

JA and district leaders said the organization’s in-school and field trip programs reached large numbers of students in 2024–25, but high-school participation remained limited to a small subset of campuses and the district plans to expand equity of access.

Why it matters: JA provides work-readiness, entrepreneurship and financial-literacy programming the district uses to supplement classroom instruction and career-and-technical-education pathways. Participation levels and program delivery models shape how many students receive hands-on career exposure.

Stacy Bolliger, senior education manager for Junior Achievement, said JA’s goals align with the district’s mission to prepare students for productive citizenship and global competition and described JA’s K–12 program suite. She said 935 fifth-graders participated in JA BizTown (the offsite civic/economic simulation) in 2024–25. Buildings that used the JA in a Day model included Fillmore, McKinley, Wilson, Madison, Buffalo, Walcott and Garfield; 79% of educators surveyed in JA in a Day buildings “strongly agree or agree” that the model was effective.

Bonnie Acey, director of elementary learning results for the district, and Principal Vincent described how the district used JA to reach students equitably. Acey said the district is committed to delivering grade-level JA programs to every elementary building either through traditional volunteer visits or the JA in a Day model, and that all fifth-graders will continue to attend JA BizTown and a fifth-grade career speaker series.

JA participation at middle and high schools was smaller: staff reported 778 sixth-graders took part in Economics for Success; 791 students from several middle schools participated in a fifth-grade career speaker series; 853 eighth-graders were involved in the JA Inspire career expo; and at the high-school level JA programming reached 23 students at Mid City and 30 at West. District and JA staff said those high-school totals represent targeted, voluntary enrollment and that the district intends to expand access and better align JA offerings with district CTE (career and technical education) pathways for 2025–26.

Principal Aaron, who described implementing JA in a Day at McKinley, said the single-day model can be easier for volunteers and allows compact delivery of interactive lessons; teachers and principals reported the format can reduce repeating introductions and allow more activity time in classrooms. The board asked whether there is long-term follow-up to measure retention after a JA in a Day; district staff said many JA lessons are embedded in curriculum and that JA and the district continue to collect program-impact data.

No board action was required. Board members praised the partnership and asked staff to work with JA on expanding equitable high-school participation and on continuing program-alignment work with CTE pathways.