Our programs draw on the research-based curriculum of the national JAG network. We implement programs in partnerships with local school districts and run them with Program Managers and Specialists who are from the local community.
Our programs draw on the research-based curriculum of the national JAG network. We implement programs in partnerships with local school districts and run them with Program Managers and Specialists who are from the local community.
The Middle School Program Application of JMG is based on the Project Reach Model which originated in 1995 by Jobs for Maine’s Graduates. Jobs for Mississippi Graduates is currently operating 3 “Project Reach” programs.
Students will:
Well-Trained Staff
Jobs for America’s Graduates, through the National Center for Evidence-Based Practices and the Northeast Center for Excellence, provides staff development for new and experienced staff members (managers, supervisors and Specialists) and an annual National Training Seminar in July.
Primary objectives – Stay in school through graduation and be placed in an entry-level job leading to a career and/or pursue a postsecondary education.
A 30 to 48-month intervention beginning as early as 9th grade and concluding 12 months after graduation. The Multi-Year program is the 12th grade plus the 9th, 10th, and/or 11th grade.
Specialists are employed on an 11-month or 12-month basis due to the year-round services.
The JAG Specialist interviews all students that express interest in the program.
Students are targeted for services based on the number of barriers to staying in school through graduation and/or transitioning from school to a career.
The Program Roster is formed and approved by an in-school Advisory Committee.
Participants receive credit toward graduation by enrolling in an accredited course.
Classes are normally offered for 1 hour per day, 5 days per week, for 36 weeks.
A student-led Career Association Chapter is organized.
The Alternative Education Programs operate similarly to the Multi-Year Program except the students served are less likely to succeed in a traditional high school program. Usually, a Specialist will work with 25-35 students due to the individual counseling and support services required by an alternative education participant. Barrier identification and tracking are especially important for an Alternative Education Program so that additional support services can be identified to help students overcome and/or cope more effectively with barriers to staying in school through graduation or transitioning into the workplace and/or pursuing a postsecondary education.
The Out-of-School (OOS) program serves young people who have left the traditional school system and are interested in completing requirements for a high school diploma or GED. The primary mission of this JAG Model program is to recover dropouts and to provide an array of counseling, employability and technical skills development, professional association, job development, and job placement services that will result in either a quality job leading to a career after graduation and/or enrollment in a postsecondary education and training program.
Nationwide, 70 percent of at-risk students that pursued a postsecondary education are unable to successfully complete their first year of college. The College Success Program is designed to help students successfully complete their first semester of college and to ensure graduation with a degree, certificate, diploma or transfer to another college. The CSP intervention includes but is not limited to:
College assistance – a career coach will be with students throughout their college experience. The career coach (similar to the career specialist in an in-school program) will be the student’s college advocate and “go to” person when they have questions regarding registration, financial aid, career choices, or personal issues that may affect their experience. The career coach will connect students with resources to ensure that each student reaches his or her college graduation and career goals.
Learning community – students will take courses with former JAG students. The JAG courses will provide participants with an orientation to college and resources, study strategies, pre-employment strategies, career planning, career seeking skills, etc. The learning community will support one another to help motivate and inspire each other to achieve their collegiate and career goals.