Jobs for America's Graduates
Jobs for America’s Graduates – New Mexico (JAG-NM) is an affiliate of Jobs for America’s Graduates, Inc., one of the nation’s largest and most effective programs in assisting high-risk youth in successfully completing school and moving into the job market and/or higher education. In 2010 JAG celebrated 30 years of service to more than 600,000 youth with a consistent and compelling set of results achieved in rural and urban areas. For more information visit.www.jag.org
JAG-NM is a drop out prevention program that provides a comprehensive school-to-career curriculum for high school students who are faced with multiple barriers to success. JAG’s mission is to keep young people with success barriers in school through graduation and provide work-based learning experiences that will lead to career advancement opportunities or to enrollment in a postsecondary institution that leads to a rewarding career.
Youth receive employability skills training in up to eight-one competency areas. These competencies include: Career Development Skills, Job Attainment Skills, Job Survival, Skills, Basic Skills, Leadership & Self Development Skills, Personal Skills, Life Survival Skills and Work Place Skills.
To nurture leadership development, all JAG-New Mexico youth belong to the local chapter of the JAG-New Mexico Career Association. As part of their membership in the Association, students participate in service learning projects in their communities and attend a state Career Development Conference that includes general sessions, career workshops and competitive events aligned with the core competencies.
In addition, JAG-NM services include twelve months of follow-up after the youth leaves high school to ensure his or her successful transition into postsecondary education, the work place, military or an apprenticeship program.
Funding is provided by the U.S. Department of Education Carl D. Perkins Career & Technical Education Act from the Career Technical and Workforce Education Bureau of the New Mexico Public Education Department. JAG-NM is sponsored by the New Mexico Business Roundtable. NMBR’s leadership of the program helps ensure the full range of employment and career opportunities for youth, maximizing their long-term success, and contributes to growth and expansion of the program statewide.
Performance and accountability are central to the JAG research-based model. Specialists are hired by participating schools across New Mexico. Specialists are trained then held accountable for ensuring that the JAG Model is properly implemented and that students meet or exceed the performance standards set by JAG, Inc.
Outstanding Performance Outcomes
At the Annual Jobs for America’s Graduates National Training Seminar held July 13-15, 2011, JAG-NM was recognized as a Performance Champion for the Class of 2010:
For excelling as a JAG State Organization as a member of the 33-state JAG National Network in implementing the Multi-Year and Alternative Education Program Applications of the JAG Model
State Awards
- Targeting the Right Students – Most Diverse
- Graduation Rate – 100%, Exceeded the JAG standard of 90%
- Full-time Placement Rate – 88%, Exceeded the JAG standard of 80%
Individual Awards
- JAG High Performer
Loretta Apodaca, Bernalillo High School
Madeline Hanna, Independence High School, Rio Rancho Public Schools
Melinda Leyba, Mora High School
- Outstanding JAG Specialist Award
Madeline Hanna – Independence High School, Rio Rancho Public Schools
