Jobs for America's Graduates-South Carolina
Jobs for America’s Graduates-South Carolina (JAG-SC) is a dropout prevention program for high school students that began in 2005 under the leadership of Governor Mark Sanford and the State Workforce Investment Board. Program oversight is provided by the South Carolina Department of Commerce. JAG-SC currently operates in 20 schools statewide. The program initially launched as a pilot program in 2005 utilizing State Workforce Investment Board funds in 14 schools. The program experienced substantial growth by adding six new schools in program year 2008-2009 through the support of the national Jobs For America's Graduates program and the South Carolina Department of Education, coupled with an additional four-year grant awarded by the AT&T Foundation.
After two years in JAG-SC, tenth graders in the program had decreased their rate of absences by 41 percent and their suspensions by 35 percent. Educators also reported gains of 9 percent in GPA and 6 percent in the number of classes passed by JAG-SC participants. In 2006, approximately 95 percent of JAG-SC participants returned to school after their first year in the program – a fact that led to JAG-SC’s recognition by the parent organization as a “Top Five High Performing State Organization." In program year 2008-2009, JAG-SC served approximately 800 youth participants with a return-to-school rate of 97 percent in the fall of 2008.
At the start of the 2009-2010 program year, the fifth year of the pilot program, JAG-SC experienced its first planned graduation outcomes. Of the 800 youth served last year, 392 were seniors, of which 361 graduated earning JAG-SC a 92.33 percent graduation rate, well above the national JAG standard.
The JAG national model has a 28 year-long track record of significant reductions in the dropout rate among participating students. The JAG model emphasizes a core employability skills curriculum. It is reinforced through partnerships with the local business communities that provide opportunities for students such as internships, mentoring, guest speakers and summer or post-graduation employment.
Click here to download a copy of the JAG-SC Two-Year Progress Report.
Contact:
Statewide JAG-SC Coordinator:
Elaine Midkiff
South Carolina Department of Commerce
Workforce Development Division
(803) 737-0214