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Board asks staff to study feasibility of Junior Achievement site or partnership after site visits
Summary
Board members who visited Junior Achievement sites in Prince George—s and Fairfax counties recommended the superintendent study whether a similar career- and financial-literacy program or regional facility could be hosted for Charles County students; board asked for a feasibility report.
After visiting Junior Achievement (JA) facilities in Prince George—s and Fairfax counties, Charles County Board members asked the superintendent on Dec. 10 to pursue a feasibility study to evaluate hosting a Junior Achievement center or establishing a partnership that could serve students across grades.
Members said the Prince George—s facility operates as an immersive, hands-on learning "financial park" in which students visit simulated storefronts and rotate through experiences (banking, retail, automotive, food services) supported by corporate sponsors and curriculum units. Officials who toured the site reported JA offers adaptable programming for elementary, middle and high school levels, and that the model can be customized to district standards and CTE goals.
Board members asked the superintendent to return with a feasibility review that would examine likely costs, potential building or rental options, funding partners (banks and philanthropy were cited by trustees), transportation needs and alignment with district standards. Trustee Nicole Kramer, who attended the visit, said she was struck by the facilitys ability to simulate job and financial decision-making in realistic settings and praised JAs willingness to tailor curriculum to local standards.
Why it matters: JA centers are a way to deliver experiential financial literacy and workforce-readiness lessons at scale, often augmented by corporate partnerships. A local facility or regular partnership could be a resource for district-wide CTE and financial-education goals.
What comes next: The board voted to ask the superintendent to prepare a feasibility report; superintendent staff will consult JA and potential funders and return with cost and program recommendations.
