Jobs for America’s Graduates-South Carolina (JAG-SC) is a dropout prevention program focused on academic success, career readiness, and life skills development. A dedicated career specialist in each of our affiliated schools functions as a teacher, coach, counselor and advocate for students with documented barriers to success. Over the course of their enrollment, students master 81 competencies identified by business as essential to successful employment.
The program, originally piloted by the South Carolina State Workforce Investment Board, was launched with fourteen programs in 2005 at the request of the Governor. Since its inception, JAG-SC has grown by 78%, serving 1,260 South Carolina youth per year with an average of 6 barriers to success.
In this, its second year of follow-up with graduating seniors, the program exceeded all five of the National JAG Standards related to graduation rate (95%), Total Positive Outcomes (88% - either employed and/or in post-secondary education), Full-time Placement (93%), Job Placement (60%) and Further Education (61%).
Its national JAG affiliate has a 31-year track record of impacting significant reductions in the dropout rate among participating students. Partnerships with local business communities provide students employment and career-building opportunities.
For more information, contact 803.737.0214 or emidkiff@dew.sc.gov.
November 2011 newsletter
