Junior Achievement will be rolling out two revamped business programs to Grades 7 and 8 this fall.

Barb Smith, CEO and president for JA of Southwestern Ontario said the programs Dollars with Sense and Economics for Success have been brought up to date to reflect the way of the future.

“The Grade 7 program takes a look at project budgets and get them to save overtime for something instead of buying outright,” she said.

The class will also look at the different investment vehicles, read stocks available to them and ways to spend their money.

“Both classes have been in Chatham-Kent for a few years, but the newer program as just making its way into the area last year and this year it will be full blown.”

About 16 Grade 7 classes will receive the Dollars with Sense program and another 34 Grade 8 classes will receive Economics for Success.

Dollar with Sense offers students a chance to learn personal money management skills and challenges them to apply these concepts in their own life. This program demonstrates how students can financially manage changes in career and life directions and provides them with experience for future economic decisions.

Students play an investment strategies game to learn about effective spending, how to avoid credit and debt pitfalls, discover the advantages and risks of different investments.

Economics for Success programs helps students explore and manage their job and career choices by focusing on the direct link between further education and personal goals.

JA is the largest provider of youth financial literacy programs and resource that support educators across Canada. They offer eight programs available in English and French and are delivered to elementary, middle and secondary classrooms across Canada.

“JA teaches students the basics of saving, budgeting and making informed decisions about how to spend their money,” said Smith.