WE SERVE THE STUDENTS OFTEN OVERLOOKED
Jobs for Alabama’s Graduates (JAG) provides specialized support for students who are up against difficult barriers that limit them from reaching graduation and career goals. We pair students with a JAG Specialist who provides group and individualized instruction to help students earn their high school degree, secure a quality job, and/or pursue post-secondary education. Through early intervention including classroom instruction, counseling, employability skills development, and job placement services, our program has seen a 99% graduation rate and 95% full-time job placement rate.
We Provide Educational Support and Success Strategies for Alabama’s Highest At-Risk Students
There are thousands of Alabama students who face stifling challenges on a daily basis. Homelessness, basic reading deficiency and incarcerated parents are just a few of the 33 barriers that JAG-eligible students battle that are restricting them from earning a high school degree and pursuing their career and educational goals.
Helping Every Alabama Student Graduate with Opportunity
We Believe In Empowerment and Opportunity Through Education
The lifetime cost of one dropout to taxpayers is $292,000 and an incredible future potential that is unrealized. This is unacceptable. In the 2016-2017 school year, public and private partners provided $1.8 million in funding for JAG programs across Alabama helping 303 out of 308 JAG students reach graduation, secure a meaningful job, and get a strong start in life. That’s a return on investment of $96 million. We can do more for Alabama’s students and we invite you to help us make graduation a reality for every Alabama student.
Breaking Down Barriers To Success
We provide support for the students who are up against difficult barriers that limit them from reaching graduation and their career goals. We pair students with a JAG Specialist and 60 other students all striving towards the same goals: earning a high school degree, securing a quality, entry-level job, and/or pursuing post-secondary education. Our specialists provide individualized instruction to equip each student with the right tools needed to succeed for generations to come.
We Are a Team of Passionate Go-Getters
Educators raise our children as much as parents do. We have over 42 JAG Specialists who pour themselves into caring and investing in children they don’t even call their own. They are a committed group of leaders making a huge impact in their corner of Alabama.
We Don’t Rest On Our Laurels
We currently operate 41 programs serving over 1,600 students statewide, and there is so much room for growth. Yes, we surpass the national averages, and yes, we have a graduation success rate in the 99th percentile, but we fundamentally believe the best is yet to come…
Discover How JAG Has Helped High School Students Achieve Their Goals
Data-Driven Dropout Prevention
Surpassing National Averages Year After Year
Performance Goal
National Goal
Alabama JAG Results
Graduation Rate of JAG Participants
Total Civilian Job Placements & Military Service
Total Full-Time Employment
Total Positive Outcomes
Further Education Rate
Connectivity Rate
Statistics from the Class of 2023
Programs Designed to Increase Success
Explore the Programs That Lead to a 100% Graduation Rate
Senior Year
The JAG Senior Year Program concentrates on supporting high school seniors most susceptible to dropping out because they are facing 5 or more of the 33 Barriers to Success identified by JAG.
Multi-Year Program
The JAG Multi-Year Program lasts up to 60 months and includes over 700 hours of professional JAG specialist support.
The Stories Behind The Data
Hear From the Students in our Programs
“When I joined JAG I had no idea that it would be such a great impact on my life. I’ve learned leadership skills, communication skills, and business skills. Mostly I learned to believe in myself, and that I am enough.”
– Tori Harrison, Covington County, Straughn High School
JAG Student Voices: Tori Harrison
When I joined JAG I had no idea that it would be such a great impact on my life. I've learned leadership skills, communication skills, and business skills.
JAG Student Voices: Kierra Hood
My name is Kiera Hood and I consider it a pleasure to share with you my thoughts on our JAG theme this year, “Stop the Drop”!
GET INVOLVED
Together We Can Make a Huge Impact
Every child needs a role model. JAG-eligible students need a support system. Our specialists partner with students in some of the most difficult situations to invest their time and energy into ensuring they succeed.
Different students have different needs. We create custom-built curricula for each student based on their barriers and challenges. Our team then provides individualized instruction and tools needed for success.
Graduation isn’t the finish line. We help students secure a quality, entry-level job that can lead to a lasting career and/or pursue postsecondary education. For a full year, graduates have regular champion check-ins to maintain a healthy and helpful support system post-graduation.
Stories of Success
Highland Home Teacher Prepares Students for the Workforce
Highland Home Teacher Prepares Students for the Workforce The future and next generation workers are in the classroom, and Leslie Flowers wants to ensure they’re ready for the real world. “We are a part of career tech,” she said. “We just really try to get students ready for life beyond high school.” Leslie Flowers is Highland Home’s High School JAG specialist. JAG stands for “Jobs for Alabama Graduates” an entity of “Jobs for America’s Graduates”. In her classroom, they focus on several things including resume building, job-seeking skills, interview skills, attire, and more. A fairly new teacher, she said she knows exactly what employers are looking for. “I was a site director of a YMCA for 10 years and I was an HR director for 10 years,” she said. She was dedicated to her job and her career when a life-altering illness forced her to take some time off. Flowers
Shelby County Schools Offers New JAG Program for Students
Shelby County Schools Offers New JAG Program for Students More opportunities are now available for students in Shelby County to learn skills needed to join the workforce right after high school graduation. Shelby County and Montevallo high schools are the first in the district to offer this program. What district leaders say is special about this program is it ensures no student is overlooked. JAG breaks down a student’s barrier to success through instructors like Megan Hale. “Every child is capable and they just need to be able to tap into that potential and i think that’s really what jag does,” said Hale. Students eligible for the program are dealing with academic, environmental, income or personal barriers. “They are facing some economic challenges. It might be that they come from a single-family home, but whatever the case, maybe it is just helping to equip them with job skills,” said Julie
Jakyiah Ashford Meets Dr. Condoleezza Rice!
JAG Student Meets Former Secretary of State Dr. Rice McAdory High School JAG student Jakyiah Ashford had the chance to meet Dr. Rice in Birmingham as a guest of Regions Bank for the 2024 Regions Bank Celebrity Golf Tournament. Jakyiah was invited to a breakfast reception to kick off the event. We are thrilled a JAG member had the chance to meet and be photographed with Dr. Condoleezza Rice.