COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo., Nov. 18, 2015 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- A new study from Junior Achievement USA (JA) shows that 42 states now have K-12 standards, guidelines or proficiencies in entrepreneurial education, up from 19 in 2009.* Additionally, the number of states requiring entrepreneurship education courses offered in high school has risen from five to 18 over the same period. JA, which conducted a review of state requirements, released the report as part of National Entrepreneurship Month, which occurs in November.
"States are adopting these requirements because they know how important entrepreneurial education is to economic development and community growth," said Jack Kosakowski, President and CEO of Junior Achievement USA. "It's important that schools get support from organizations like JA to bring entrepreneurs and proven programs into the classroom to help educators meet these goals and give young people a better understanding of how entrepreneurship works."
During the week of November 16th, Junior Achievement will be working with organizations such as the Young Entrepreneur Council (YEC) and U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA) to bring entrepreneurs into classrooms across the country to share their experience with JA students. In its first year, this initiative is expected to help as many as 10,000 high school students gain a better understanding of what it takes to start and business and how an entrepreneurial perspective can be beneficial in other facets of life. To learn more, visit www.JA.org.
*Note: The 2009 data is based on the 2009 Council on Economic Education Survey of the States.
About Junior Achievement USA® (JA)
Junior Achievement is the world's largest organization dedicated to giving young people the knowledge and skills they need to own their economic success, plan for their future, and make smart academic and economic choices. JA programs are delivered by corporate and community volunteers, and provide relevant, hands-on experiences that give students from kindergarten through high school knowledge and skills in financial literacy, work readiness and entrepreneurship. Today, JA reaches 4.6 million students per year in 113 markets across the United States, with an additional 5.6 million students served by operations in 121 other countries worldwide. Visit www.ja.org for more information.