Between the infrastructure plans and applause breaks at this years’ budget address, the governor took a moment to highlight a program aiming to help students complete schooling. Now, she says it’s time to expand.
JAG, or Jobs for America’s Graduates, is a program for at-risk youths which aims to assist students as they transition from school to adult life.
The program is a priority of Gov. Kristi Noem.
“When I took office just a few schools in South Dakota were utilizing JAG," Noem said. "In 2020, we established a full-time facilitator to cooperate with students and schools to set up JAG programs, and today 13 schools across the state have full-fledged programs with students thriving. These kids are completing high school, they’re going to college and they’re achieving their dreams. So, why would we stop at 13 schools?”
The program offers a path to college that’s blocked to many young people.
Laura Scheibe is the director of the division of college career and student success at the state Department of Education. She said JAG is about creating leaders as much as it’s about creating college kids.
“It supports them to overcome challenges that they have, both inside and outside the classroom, it also provides some personal connections with businesses, professionals and students," Scheibe said. "We are excited by the governor’s proposal and hope to be able to expand JAG to every student that needs access to it.”
Scheibe said that growth would be gradual.
“We’re looking at a growth of perhaps three to five schools a year, but really it depends on the resources and capacity we have to be able to expand it across the state," Scheibe said. "We encourage if families and students are interested to approach their school leadership, their school boards. We’re already in nine school districts across the state and would love to be able to get into more communities.”
Nationwide, students affiliated with JAG have a graduation rate of 95%.