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 2022
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
Governor Ivey and Regions Bank Join Alabama JAG for Grant Presentation
Grant supporting Jobs for Alabama’s Graduates will empower students through academic support and job-readiness skills. Governor Ivey joined Alabama JAG in MONTGOMERY, Alabama on Monday, Sept. 19, 2023 – to be present as The Regions Foundation, a nonprofit funded primarily by Regions Bank, presented Alabama JAG with a check for $15,000 to support Jobs for Alabama’s Graduates (JAG) and students across Alabama preparing to enter the workforce. “The Regions Foundation is committed to funding programs that provide hope and opportunity, helping people overcome barriers and achieve success,” said Marta Self, executive director of the Regions Foundation. “JAG is empowering students by addressing challenges and equipping them for brighter futures. The Regions Foundation is honored to support this work because we see the impact JAG is making by helping the students of today prepare for the jobs of tomorrow.” The Regions Foundation grant will support JAG’s Youth Workforce Development program, including
Opinion | Proven program brings new hope, opportunity to young people
Opinion | Proven program brings new hope, opportunity to young people By ERIC G. MACKEY and DIONNE WELLS HEDRINGTON Schools across the nation are facing some of the most daunting issues in public education in the nation’s history. The impacts stemming from the pandemic are numerous and pervasive: massive learning loss, student disengagement, and – particularly concerning – mental health issues for far too many of our students and staff. Further, the schools are shorthanded in almost every category, from the mass exodus of teachers (some 800,000 having left the profession in the past 12 months alone) to a similar percentage of losses of administrators, counselors, bus drivers and support staff. Although these impacts have affected everyone in some way, they have been even harder for our most challenged students in special populations. As the nation contemplates how to respond to these deeply concerning issues, we wanted to highlight a
Brewer High School Students Help One Another Through The Love Project
Brewer High School Students Help One Another Through The Love Project By Maddie McCaffrey A special program at one Morgan county school ensures students have what they need when classes start back in three weeks. It's called The Love Project. It's a project at Brewer High School where any student is able to get clothing or hygiene supplies they may need. The clothes and hygiene items are kept in a closet available to all students. Signs for The Love Project are posted throughout the school. Students are able to scan the QR code to discreetly make requests for any clothing or hygiene item they may need. JAG Program Teacher Jill Faulkner oversees The Love Project and said, “I always keep extra things in my closet. I coach here too, so I always have things laying around. So it just happened to be that if someone needed something, they would