Description

JA INSPIRE^®

<sup>JA Inspire is more than a career fair: It brings together the business community and local schools and is designed to help launch middle school students into their future—high school, college, and careers beyond. The program is both classroom- and event-based and consists of three segments: (1) in-class sessions presented by the classroom teacher; (2) the hands-on JA Inspire expo; and (3) an in-class debrief. During the JA Inspire expo, students participate in hands-on activities, often using equipment or tools used on a job. The multihour experience is configurable to align with local industry and career opportunities.

Students who participate in a JA Inspire event will:

-- Gain insight into career clusters that interest them.
-- Make connections with adults who have jobs in careers that interest them.
-- See the connection between high school programming choices and careers.
-- Collect information about the education required to be successful in a job.
-- Practice soft skills.

JA Inspire is part of the JA Work and Career Readiness Pathway and is intended for middle school students (grades 6–8). This volunteer- and educator-led program can be classroom-based, remote live, or after-school. This program can be combined with JA Inspire Virtual to meet the needs of educators, students, and volunteers.

As part of this program, JA teachers and volunteers are encouraged to use the resources available in JA Connect® Learning Pathways, located at connect.ja.org. This self-guided experience includes interactives, JA Here to Career™, and games and apps for student use.

JA programs support national and state standards in reading, mathematics, social studies, and work and career readiness. See below for more information on alignment with national and state standards.</sup>