How can JAG help YOUR students?

WHAT IS JAG?Jobs for America’s Graduates (JAG) is a state-based,

national non-profit organization dedicated to helping high school students of promise who have

experienced challenging or traumatic life experiences achieve success through graduation.

JAG is a resiliency-building workforce preparation program that helps students learn in-demand

employability skills and provides a bridge to post-secondary education and career advancement

opportunities.

JAG INDIANA HISTORY

• 2006-2007 Introduced by Gov. Daniels

• 12 Pilot Programs (Gary, Ft. Wayne, Indianapolis, Greene Co.)

• JAG Expansion: 2013-14 and 2017-18 School Years

• Governor Holcomb’s State of the State Goals

• Current JAG Indiana Funding Sources

Trauma Informed

Environment

Employer Engagement

Project Based

Learning

JAG ADVANTAGE

JAG National

IN Dept. of Workforce Develop-

ment

Regional Workforce Develop-

ment Boards

Service Providers

Schools

JAG INDIANA STRUCTURE

• 11th and 12th grade students with barriers receive in-school JAG competency curriculum

Multi-Year

• Provides services to 11th and 12th grade students enrolled in alternative learning environments

Alternative Education

• Serves high school dropouts (ages 16-24); assists them with completion of the high school equivalency program or high school diploma, entering into employment, or post-secondary training opportunities

Out-of-School

• Currently at the Ivy Tech campuses in Indianapolis and Fort Wayne. This program assists students in college with transitional services, continued career exploration, and mentoring.

Early College Success

PROGRAM MODELS

IN-SCHOOL PROGRAM MODEL• Specialists deployed in local high schools, WorkOne offices or

adult education centers: serve 35-50 students per roster or cohort

• Contact: 1 hour a day; 5 days/week; school year and summer; DOE Credit (0522 course code)

• JAG National Curriculum: 37 Employability Competencies (evidence based)

• JAG Career Association: Participate in leadership and service-learning activities

• Field trips, guest speakers, job shadowing, mentors and tutors

• Linkages to internships and job development

• Goals: Graduation, employment and/or post-secondary education

• One year of Follow-up Services

STUDENT BARRIERS

Having inadequate or no work experience

Economically disadvantaged

Needs transportation to and from work or school

Low academic performance

Basic skills deficient

A past record of excessive absences

Family environment issues/not goal oriented

Did not pass the state proficiency exam

One or more parents unemployed

One or more parents did not complete high school

Has been suspended, expelled or on probation

Special education certified

90.9%

67.3%

46.0%

44.2%

44.0%

36.5%

33.6%

30.0%

27.2%

20.9%

17.3%

13.4%

STUDENTS WHO WANT, NEED & CAN BENEFIT FROM JAG

CORE COMPETENCIES• Identify occupational interests

• Conduct a job search, design a professional resume, write a cover letter for a job application, demonstrate job interviewing skills

• Demonstrate positive attitudes, work ethics and behaviors, effective decision-making skills

• Demonstrate ability to accept responsibility for one’s actions, effective conflict resolution skills

• Ability to set realistic goals and priorities, effective money management skills, independent living skills

• Ability to communicate and work with customers to satisfy expectations, determine employer expectations

ADDITIONAL STUDENT SUPPORT• Initiation and Installation Ceremonies

• Leadership and Career Development Conference (students)

• State and National Professional Development (staff)

• Service and Project Based Learning components

• SAT/ACT requirements

• JAG Indiana Outreach Coordinators

• Employer Connections

• PSE Connections

• Ivy Tech and Vincennes University Partnerships

• DWD Support Services: WorkINdiana, Adult Education, Indiana Career Explorer and Indiana Career Ready

HISTORY OF SUCCESS

88%

72%

47%

91%

81%

55%

89%

82%

59%

93%

87%

69%

94%

88%

72%

95%

89%

77%

95%

88%

75%

0%

10%

20%

30%

40%

50%

60%

70%

80%

90%

100%

Graduation Rate Positive Outcomes Entered Employment2011 2012 2013 2014 2015 2016 2017

IMPLEMENTATION BEST PRACTICES• Integrate JAG Specialists into school staff meetings and

teams

• School leaders should attend JAG program events; celebrate small student successes

• Promote JAG program to ALL students (newsletters, announcements, etc.)

• Connect with JAG Indiana and local JAG programs on social media platforms

• Form effective Advisory Board (principals, teachers, coaches, counseling staff)

• Integrate JAG service learning projects into school

JAG & GRADUATION PATHWAYSWBL Model Description

Internship • Provides participants with an opportunity to learn about career or industry by working for an employer in the field of interest over a period of time.

• A form of experiential learning, often tied to a program of study, which enables participants to gain applied experience, build professional and technical skills, and make connections in a field of interest.

On-the-job Training • Workplace-based opportunity for participants to develop career-track skills needed for entry to a particular industry or advancement along a career track.

• May be incorporated in cooperative models.

School-based Enterprise • An entrepreneurial operation in a school setting that provides goods/services to meet the needs of the market.

• Managed and operated by students as work based learning experiences.

Employment • Paid, workplace-based opportunity or occupation.

Additional recognized WBL options • Governor’s Work Ethic Certificate• Jobs for America’s Graduates• JROTC• Extended Labs or Field Experiences

NEXT STEPS•5-year Expansion Plan

• “Waiting List” (through DWD and local WDB/region)

•Superintendent and School Board approval (if applicable)

•School Advisory Board: champions & recruiting efforts

•Classroom space

•Hiring process: employees of the DWD service provider

•Student Selection

•Potential partial funding after 1 year

@JAGIndiana1 @JAGIndiana@JAGIndiana

QUESTIONS?Brianna Morse

Director of Youth Initiatives

bmorse1@dwd.in.gov

Bart DoanOutreach and Engagement Manager

bdoan@dwd.in.gov