A First for Iowa: The JA Dream Accelerator™ Coming to Iowa City Community School District

Image caption: The JA Dream Accelerator™ coming to Iowa City Community School District will be the second of its kind in the nation—bringing an innovative, hands-on career exploration experience to Eastern Iowa students.

The Iowa City Community School District is preparing to open the doors to something truly extraordinary—and it’s only the second of its kind in the entire country. The JA Dream Accelerator™, a hands-on, immersive career exploration experience powered by Junior Achievement, will soon give local students a one-of-a-kind opportunity to discover their strengths, envision their futures, and start building a path toward meaningful careers.

As the first JA Dream Accelerator™ in Iowa, this groundbreaking program will serve as a model for districts across the state, and a powerful resource for preparing our youth for the world ahead.

What Is the JA Dream Accelerator™?

The JA Dream Accelerator™ is not your typical classroom experience. It’s a high-impact, interactive simulation where students step into a career exploration center designed to mirror real-world environments. Students won’t just learn about jobs—they’ll use tools, participate in task-based simulations, and engage in activities that reflect what it’s actually like to be a working professional.

The program centers around six dynamic stations:

• Introductory Film – An energizing look at the power of entrepreneurship and innovation
• Picture Your Strengths – Students discover how their personal attributes can align with career paths
• Career Inspiration Gallery – Features real-world stories of successful professionals and business leaders across various industries
• Reality Check – A budgeting simulation that connects career income to lifestyle choices
• Entrepreneurial Mindset – Teaches students how to approach their futures with creativity and confidence
• Visualization Zone – A forward-thinking space where students begin to shape their goals and aspirations

Each 1.5-hour session can serve up to 40 students and is supported by volunteers from the local business community who offer insights and mentorship along the way.

Image caption: Members of the Junior Achievement of Eastern Iowa staff, board members, and representatives from the Iowa City Community School District traveled to Colorado last fall to experience the nation’s first JA Dream Accelerator™ firsthand.

How It Works at ICCSD

The JA Dream Accelerator™ won’t be a stand-alone experience—it will be deeply integrated into the student curriculum. As part of their required Earth and Space Sciences class, primarily taken by 9th-grade students, ICCSD students will first participate in seven class periods focused on career readiness. These lessons will help them reflect on their interests, take aptitude assessments, and understand pathways toward various careers.

Then, students will attend the JA Dream Accelerator™, where they’ll put that knowledge into action. Afterward, they’ll engage in two more classroom sessions to reflect on what they learned and begin setting short- and long-term career goals.

Construction has already begun on the space, with plans to install the interactive assets later this calendar year. The goal is to host a demo experience in the fall followed by a full student launch in the spring semester.

Perhaps most importantly, each student’s experience will be captured and shared with school guidance counselors, providing them with personalized data to help students plan the rest of their high school journey—and beyond.

Why It Matters: Impact Beyond the Classroom

The JA Dream Accelerator™ directly supports the Iowa College and Career Readiness Framework, giving students the tools to:

• Master essential content knowledge aligned with Iowa Core standards
• Build practical transition skills, like setting career goals and exploring post-secondary options
• Develop learning and cognitive strategies, such as time management and collaboration
• Strengthen self-awareness and engagement, including leadership, self-direction, and community responsibility

By offering a meaningful blend of hands-on learning and thoughtful reflection, this program empowers students to understand themselves, identify opportunities, and take charge of their futures.

Backed by a Trusted Mission

This transformative new program is made possible by Junior Achievement of Eastern Iowa (JAEI), a nonprofit committed to inspiring and preparing young people to succeed in a global economy. During the 2024–2025 school year, JAEI partnered with 145 schools across 14 counties, reaching more than 41,000 students through education programs in financial literacy, work readiness, and entrepreneurship.

With the help of nearly 1,400 trained volunteers and support from the business community, Junior Achievement brings real-world relevance into classrooms, and the JA Dream Accelerator™ is the next exciting chapter in that story.

Image caption: Students will soon engage in hands-on career exploration at the JA Dream Accelerator™, where interactive simulations will help them discover their strengths and explore real-world career pathways.

Helping Students See the Future—Then Step Into It

When the JA Dream Accelerator™ launches in Iowa City, it won’t just be a new program—it will be a powerful, hands-on learning experience that brings career education to life. Students won’t just hear about jobs—they’ll use real tools, interact with job simulators, and apply critical thinking to real-world tasks that mirror actual work environments. It’s not theoretical—it’s transformational.

"The Dream Accelerator is a game changer," said Dr. Nate Klein, Vice President of Education at Junior Achievement of Eastern Iowa. "It will give students a chance to connect their interests with real opportunities, and more importantly, to see themselves in careers they may have never imagined possible. This is about more than career awareness—it’s about giving students the confidence and direction to take the next step toward a future they can be excited about."

"We are committed to preparing students for whatever path they choose after graduation, whether that’s college, a trade, the military, or launching their own business," said Iowa City Community School District Superintendent Matt Degner. "The JA Dream Accelerator™ is a powerful addition to our curriculum that will help students make real connections between their strengths, their interests, and their futures. We’re proud to be the first district in Iowa to bring this innovative experience to our students."

Backed by the proven success of Junior Achievement of Eastern Iowa, this program builds on our mission to inspire and prepare young people for success. The JA Dream Accelerator™ will be a cornerstone of this work in the Iowa City Community School District, helping students connect what they learn in the classroom to future career paths and life goals. Whether they dream of launching a business, pursuing a trade, or going to college, this experience will help them chart a path forward—with confidence.

The future is coming to ICCSD—and it starts with a dream.