Pretend Main Street Teaches Real-Life Financial Lessons

At Junior Achievement’s JA BizTown in Hillsboro, students run the bank, City Hall and the chair factory, and learn how to handle money along the way 

Emily Matsuba was in 5th grade when she stood at a bank teller's window and cashed her first paper paycheck. She had earned it that morning working a shift in a café. 

"Going to the bank, actually cashing my paycheck, getting that money so I can spend it, that was my first experience of being like an adult ... as a 10-year-old," she said. "I still talk about this a lot." 

Emily's vivid memory was from her field trip to JA BizTown, a miniature city that Junior Achievement of Oregon and Southwest Washington operates in Hillsboro and Southeast Portland. Fifth and sixth graders spend a school day running the town's businesses, banks, nonprofits and government. They hold jobs, earn paychecks, pay taxes and vote for a mayor.  

"Our mission is to educate and inspire youth to succeed in a global economy," said Barbara Smith, the organization's President and CEO. "We're already seeing the effects of not having personal finance in school."  

Emily came back to JA BizTown as an Oregon Community Foundation intern on a recent site visit with other staff. Oregon Community Foundation and its donors support programs like this because helping young people succeed takes more than strong academics. Experiential learning, mentorship and financial literacy help students build the skills and confidence they need for success in school, work and life.

Every stop has a lesson

Each JA BizTown session brings 70 to 120 students through the doors. Every student gets a business, a title and an instruction manual, and adult volunteers coach them through their jobs. Organizers say the experiential learning, where students make their own decisions, makes a lasting impact. 

At OnPoint Community Credit Union and U.S. Bank, students work as tellers and process loans. Portland General Electric charges businesses for energy and offers rebates for renewable power. At Emerick Construction, students build an Adirondack chair to sell. Students earn two paychecks and a debit card, and they learn the difference between cash, debit and credit. 

At City Hall, students hold elections, run a census and conduct a public opinion poll. A district attorney investigates cases, a fire marshal enforces safety codes, and IRS agents even collect taxes. 

Gina Huntington, Junior Achievement's Director of Operations, said the point goes beyond money. "At Columbia Sportswear, students can see that a retail store involves much more than simply selling products. There are people managing inventory, helping customers, handling a point of sale system and making sure the business runs smoothly. Students don't necessarily see all of that in real life," she said. "These are ways for them to see what's possible." 

Scott Neal, a fifth-grade teacher at William Walker Elementary School in Beaverton, has brought students for several years and seen the results in their faces.  

"Even though it was a little stressful for them, they really enjoyed it," Neal said. "And they walked away, they were smiling. They were really proud of themselves for what they had accomplished." 

Making sure every school can come 

Participation in JA BizTown costs about $65 per student. Junior Achievement asks schools to cover about $22 for the curriculum, training, support and the simulation itself. Sponsors and other community partners help pay the rest. The organization receives no federal or state funding, and about half its revenue comes from corporate partners. 

That matters for schools like William Walker, a Title I school that serves a high percentage of low-income families. Price was one obstacle, and finding parent volunteers was another, because many parents work during the day. Project LEDO, a nonprofit partner, helped negotiate a price the school could manage, and the school later won a grant to offset the fee. Junior Achievement also works with schools to recruit volunteers when additional support is needed. 

"What I really liked about JA BizTown is that they said we don't want any school to not be able to come because of price," Neal said. 

OCF donors help too. Priscilla Trevino, the organization's Director of Development, said donors give because they want young people, especially those in underserved communities, to broaden their perspectives. "They truly believe in the mission of empowering our young people," she said. 

What comes next 

Both Oregon centers, Hillsboro and Southeast Portland, are always looking for more students. Smith said the organization is working to expand outreach to more lower-income schools, with equitable education scholarship dollars from corporate partners and donors.

What's more, Oregon state law now requires all high school students to complete one semester of personal finance to graduate. Junior Achievement is well positioned to serve as a provider of that learning to schools across the state. With multiple program options and flexible delivery models, Junior Achievement can meet the needs of schools regardless of their location, including ones in rural communities.

Teacher Scott Neal remembers one former student who did not have the opportunity to visit BizTown. He had so little understanding of personal finances that he thought a retirement account was just a big savings account. Now that student works in a bank and Neal hopes to recruit him as a volunteer mentor at BizTown. 

"I can sit and talk to the kids about economics and business and so forth, and they'll get some of it," Neal said. "But when they actually physically do it and experience it, it really helps them get a better understanding. And it's a great memory!" 

Neal plans to bring about 80 students to JA BizTown Hillsboro in May.

Find out more about JA BizTown here.