INDIANAPOLIS (Aug. 9, 2018) – Indiana’s award-winning Jobs
for America’s Graduates program, which helps high school students achieve
success through graduation, will be expanding in the upcoming school year as
part of Governor Eric Holcomb’s goal to add 250 more programs throughout the
state.
In Indiana, between 8,000
to 10,000 high school students drop out each year, and 40 percent of those
never enter the workforce. But through JAG, more of those students are
finishing school and preparing for future careers at the same time. In the
2017-18 academic year, 95 percent of students enrolled in a JAG program graduated
from high school.
JAG Indiana is
administered by the Indiana Department of Workforce Development and is funded by
state and federal dollars. JAG is a workforce preparation program, which allows
students to receive class credit by completing the course. The program helps
students learn in-demand employability skills and provides a bridge to
post-secondary education and career advancement opportunities.
Beginning with just 12 schools in 2006, JAG Indiana has grown to be the largest
affiliate in the national network, with 135 programs statewide. Now it’s about
to get even bigger, with plans to add four more programs in the upcoming school
year. The expansion is part of Gov. Holcomb’s plan that he announced during his
last State of the State address to ultimately add a total of 250 more programs.
Click
here to watch Brianna Morse discuss JAG expansion.
Gov. Holcomb’s plans to grow the program in Indiana follow his election as chair
of JAG’s National Board of Directors. JAG was founded in 1980 and has programs
in 1,000 schools across the country. He began serving his term on Jan. 1.
“I’m committed to expanding JAG; it works,” the governor said during his State
of the State address. “So, as we evaluate programs over the next year, we’ll
maximize existing resources and work with the private sector to add 250 more
programs all across Indiana within the next seven years.”
Adding 250 more programs will
enable JAG Indiana to increase the number of students it serves each school
year, from 6,500 to more than 25,000.
The success of JAG Indiana
is reflected in the recent honor it earned from JAG’s national office in
Alexandria, Virginia. For the fourth consecutive year, JAG Indiana received the
prestigious “5 of 5” Award for meeting five goals set by the national
organization, including exceeding graduation-rate and job-placement milestones.
Watch
Morse discuss exceeding the 5 of 5 goals.
“This year, JAG Indiana
exceeded the national goals for student graduation, employment and
post-secondary education participation,” said Brianna Morse, DWD Director of
Youth Initiatives. “JAG Indiana students set the bar for meeting industry
demands for a skilled and committed workforce, as they are truly leaders within
their school and community, trained in today’s most in-demand employability
skills. The Jobs for America’s graduates
program provides students with a competitive advantage in the job market, as
our supports and program mentors help them achieve success on their career
path.”
JAG Indiana’s 95 percent
graduation rate during the last academic year exceeded the 90 percent benchmark
set by the national office.
It also achieved:
● 75 percent job
placement, including the military, exceeding the 60 percent goal
● 88 percent positive
outcome (landing a job, joining the military, or continuing onto post-secondary
education, exceeding the 80 percent goal
● 90 percent in full-time
placement, exceeding the goal of 80 percent
● 75 percent in full-time
jobs, exceeding the goal of 60 percent.
In addition, all 12 of DWD’s regions throughout the state received “5 of 5”
awards, while 60 of the 135 individual programs did.
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Attachments: JAG logo
About JAG Indiana
Since its inception, more than 20,000
Hoosiers have participated in JAG with 95 percent of these students graduating
from high school. JAG students receive career preparation and life skills
training while in school and one year of adult mentoring after graduation to
ensure their continued success. Many students choose to continue their
education after high school, with JAG participants securing more than $27
million in scholarships for the class of 2018.
About the Indiana Department of
Workforce Development
DWD
serves the worker and the employer to ensure workplace success. DWD is
committed to innovating and invigorating Indiana’s economic future by providing
WorkOne Career Centers, Unemployment Insurance, Labor Market Information,
Regional Workforce Strategies and Professional Training. Through these
services, DWD is able to develop a premier workforce that enables Indiana
employers to flourish and entices businesses from outside our state to relocate
to Indiana.
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