KANSAS CITY, KAN. --- Kansas Gov. Sam Brownback and Education Commissioner Diane DeBacker today announced a new program aimed at improving high school graduation rates and help students develop skills to take into the workforce.
Turner High School in Kansas City, Kan., is one of the first 25 high schools in the entire State of Kansas to take part in the "Jobs for America's Graduates" program.
“This program will help students create an environment for success,” Brownback said. “By providing these students with the right tools and a strong support system, we can help them graduate from high school with the job training and skills they need to find meaningful employment.”
DeBacker said that JAG-Kansas, the name of the local branch of the program, will help decrease dropout rates throughout the state.
"While we have one of the highest graduation rates in the U.S., we need to identify ways to keep students engaged, to give them purpose,” DeBacker said. “JAG-Kansas will help us serve our students and help even more Kansas students graduate from high school and prepare for careers.”
In existence for 32 years, the JAG program has helped over 800,000 students nation-wide. The goal is to help "at-risk students" graduate from high school, obtain a GED and to find post-secondary education options or entry-level jobs.
“When these students earn a diploma or a GED, combined with job training, they will find career and life opportunities they may never have considered before,” Brownback said.
More information about JAG-Kansas:
The JAG-Kansas program will be administered by Communities in Schools of Kansas in partnership with the Kansas Department for Children and Families and the Kansas State Department of Education. Funding for the program primarily will come from a Temporary Aid for Needy Families grant through DCF.
The first 25 high schools to participate in the JAG-Kansas program are: Arkansas City, Basehor-Linwood, Concordia, Garden City, Topeka-Highland Park, Holcomb, Hutchinson, Junction City, Kingman, Liberal, Newton, Parsons, Pittsburg, Royal Valley, Salina Central, Salina South, Stafford, Topeka, Topeka West, Turner, Wichita East, Wichita North, Wichita South, Wichita Southeast and Wichita West.
For more information on the national “Jobs for America’s Graduates” program, visit the website at www.jag.org.
