Jobs for Montana’s Graduates Program Nationally Recognized.

The transition from school into the workforce can be difficult for some students, but the Department of Labor and Industry’s Jobs for Montana’s Graduates Program http://montana.jag.org/about_us.htm (JMG) is changing that and gaining national recognition. Jobs for America’s Graduates (JAG) awarded Montana’s JMG program with the "5 for 5" award for the fourth year in a row. "We are honored to receive this award", said State Director Drea Brown. "The specialists and students work hard to make this program what it is today; our goal at JMG is to help students secure a good job or post-secondary education that will lead to a meaningful career once they graduate high school."

JAG, serving 30 states, has established five performance outcomes for students enrolled in the program. The standards include graduation rate, positive outcomes of transitioning to work, post secondary education, or military, and full-time job placements. In 2006-2007, JMG supported a network of 38 programs offering 602 students the potential for future career development by focusing on staying in school and finding a career path suited to their interests and abilities.

Students are selected for the program due to barriers they may have to completing high school and entering the workforce. In school year 2007-2008, JMG supported a network of 44 programs offering 826 students the potential for future career development by focusing on staying in school and finding a career path suited to their interests and abilities.

Seven of the 44 programs offered are located on or border four of Montana’s Indian reservations and serve 112 native youth. The graduation rate for Indian students is 92% with an 81% positive outcome after 1 year.

JMG also offers a middle school program; for the 2009-2010 school year, JMG will be in 52 high schools, 11 middle schools and the Youth Challenge program. To learn more about the Jobs for Montana Graduates program contact Drea Brown (406) 444-0978.