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FAQs

What is Biz Kid$

Biz Kid$ is a fun, 30-minute PBS television series about entrepreneurship and financial literacy that entertains and teaches kids how to make and manage money while inspiring them to pursue their passions. Biz Kid$ is exclusively underwritten by America’s Credit Unions—a coalition of credit unions, credit union leagues, credit union foundations, affiliated system organizations and service providers—and will include customized classroom curriculum currently under development by JA Worldwide (Junior Achievement) that corresponds with each episode.

Who is the intended audience and how will Biz Kid$ reach it?

The target audience for Biz Kid$ includes upper elementary and lower middle school students. However, anyone interested in financial literacy and business education can learn something from this program.

Each week, the show’s kid hosts meet at The Vault, a hip, high-tech Internet club for all ages, to share and exchange information on how to be a Biz Kid. Within the setting are different performance areas, including a lounge area, juice bar, and workstation pods.

The three main elements of the show—direct education, comedy sketches, and real-life profiles—work in concert to support the varying learning objectives of each episode. By utilizing elements of direct education with offbeat illustrations, unique characters, animation and music, Biz Kid$ is a show that will appeal to both kids and their parents.

How is Biz Kid$ being produced?

Biz Kid$ is shot and mastered in HD (High Definition). Each episode follows a basic variety show format, which layers individual elements in a "channel surfing" style pioneered by the producers’ previous work in Disney Presents Bill Nye the Science Guy. Short profiles of real-life entrepreneurs also serve to further illustrate the real life applications of the show’s learning objectives.

Who are the Biz Kid$ producers?

Biz Kid$ is produced by four people, three of which are best known for their work on Disney Presents Bill Nye the Science Guy - a series that has run continuously since 1993 and has won 26 Emmy awards (two for Outstanding Children’s Television Series) and 39 nominations. The producers include Jim McKenna, Erren Gottlieb, Jamie Hammond and Jeannine Glista.

How did America's Credit Unions and JA Worldwide become involved in Biz Kid$?

Like all things successful and innovative, Biz Kid$ began as a big idea. A Biz Kid$ producer made contact with the Washington Credit Union Foundation (WCUF) in the spring of 2005. The League pitched the idea to Washington’s credit unions, who became immediately interested. JA Worldwide became an interested partner in the fall of 2005, but when the national scope of the project became apparent, the decision to bring America’s Credit Unions into the fold was made.

Together, the Executive Producers, WCUF, and JA Worldwide introduced the concept to credit union representatives from across the U.S. at a special summit at JA Finance Park in Auburn, Wash., in March of 2006.

The project has since attracted the attention of many credit unions, credit union trade associations and foundations, affiliated system organizations and service providers as exclusive underwriters. The National Credit Union Foundation (NCUF) threw its full support behind the project with its largest-ever grant—a three-year commitment of $2 million.

With permission from the Credit Union National Association (CUNA) the group has adopted "America’s Credit Unions" as a moniker.

What drew these three entities together as Biz Kid$ partners?

JA Worldwide and America’s Credit Unions were drawn together by their mutual credibility, longevity, parallel missions and proven results.

Credit unions represent an international, not-for-profit, financial-cooperative movement whose goal is to make their members’ lives better through economic empowerment. This begins with sound financial education.

Credit union educators already partner with JA Worldwide, the National Endowment for Financial Literacy (NEFE) and other educational program providers to voluntarily teach young people money management skills. Through the JA Biz Kid$ partnership, even more doors are opening to credit unions’ core values of self-help and social responsibility.

JA Worldwide uses hands-on experiences to inspire and prepare young people to succeed in a global economy. In partnership with business and educators, JA Worldwide brings the real world to students, opening their minds to their potential.

The Biz Kid$ project was a natural fit, but it was the recognition of the national scope, potential long-term reach and mutual passion to address the important need of financial literacy that sealed the deal. So, on June 22, 2006, JA Worldwide CEO David S. Chernow, Washington Credit Union League President/CEO John Annaloro, Snohomish County (Wash.) PUD Credit Union CEO and former WCUF Chairman Bob Schumacher and BizKid$ Executive Producer Jamie Hammond signed the contract that began the partnership.

What is the Biz Kid$ curriculum like?

America’s Credit Unions and JA Worldwide will partner together to reach young people with customized curriculum designed to correspond with each episode. Leveraging volunteers from the Credit Union community and JA Worldwide’s established relationships with schools, Biz Kid$ can be delivered directly into the classroom. The curriculum is currently under development by JA Worldwide.