Students Step into Action: iJAG is the Reason they Walk Across Iowa
State of Iowa Seal
Students most at risk to drop out are walking to highlight the importance of increasing the high school graduation rate across Iowa.
(DES MOINES) – Students in iJAG (Iowa Jobs for America’s Graduates) lead their communities in a Walk Across Iowa on Oct. 11th. The students hope to grow support for the program that helps students graduate from high school. Through their actions they intend to create awareness and raise funds for iJAG, which helps them and other students at the highest risk of dropping out stay in school, graduate, and ultimately increase graduation rates in communities across the state.
Since iJAG began in Iowa 12 years ago, iJAG has graduated more than 7,000 students with an average 93% graduation rate, compared to Iowa’s 89% statewide average. Approximately one-sixth of iJAG students are the first in their family to graduate. “It’s been a great program,” said Ben Frazier, a student at Des Moines East. “I saw kids from all walks of life come to my specialist with a variety of different problems and help them. I saw a kid go from skipping class to having perfect punctuality and being a great student. It changes students.”
The iJAG program partners in 13 communities across Iowa to support 26 iJAG in-school programs. iJAG programs allow iJAG Specialists to work with students during the school year and summer months on academics, career skills, leadership, and career guidance. The program not only helps students graduate, but works with them a year after high school as they transition to college or enter the job world. Over 43% of the iJAG graduates have continued on to college.
“iJAG attracts both private and public support because it works” said Reynolds. “Governor Branstad and I, as well as the Iowa Legislature, are committed to increasing graduation rates and building a skilled workforce. For 12 years iJAG has averaged a 93% graduation rate and is working with the students that are among the most at-risk of dropping out,” continued Reynolds. “I accepted the request to be the iJAG BOD Chair so that we could collectively increase the awareness of this program and grow it across the state. Most people don’t know that we have an iJAG specialist that works with 45 students in 26 schools throughout Iowa. This program even follows them for one year after graduation to assure they are on path.”
Concluding the Walk, students and businesses will join Lt. Gov. Reynolds, iJAG Board Chair, at 3 p.m. on the West steps of the State Capitol Building. The students from across the state will present signatures collected from iJAG communities supporting iJAG and increasing graduation rates to Governor Branstad and Lt. Governor Reynolds. The students will observe the Governor signing a proclamation in support of the students’ efforts and iJAG’s mission. A Student Success Reception will follow at the Historical Building from 4 p.m. to 6:00 p.m.
Schools with iJAG programs:
Cedar Rapids Washington
Cedar Rapids Jefferson
Council Bluffs Thomas Jefferson
Council Bluffs Abraham Lincoln
Council Bluffs Wilson
Creston
Davenport Central
Davenport Kimberly Center
Davenport North
Davenport West
Des Moines East
Des Moines Hoover
Des Moines North
Des Moines Lincoln
Dubuque Hempstead
Dubuque Senior
DMACC
East Moline United Township
Keokuk
Marshalltown
Ottumwa
Perry
Sioux City North Middle School
Sioux City North High School
Waterloo East
Some of iJAG’s success stories:
“I learned so much and had the opportunity to experience many things. iJAG taught me to take initiatives and being in iJAG was my first time ever taking on a leadership role and it was because my teacher had faith in me, supported and pushed me to be better. So I guess it’s true then what people say ‘when you know better, you do better’. I don’t know if I ever said this to you but ‘THANK YOU’.”
— Isabelle, a junior at Buena Vista
“I became an active member in Iowa Jobs for America’s Graduates. Finally I had a reason why I wanted to go to school. I still struggled from time-to-time, but I had family involvement and teachers who cared about me graduating.
“The day of graduation I proudly walked across the stage and finally realized what I had accomplished, and I was proud to say I made it.”
— Marguerite, a sophomore at DMACC
“I used to live in Carson City, Nevada, and was a really bad student and it all happened after my parents separated …. At Perry High School. I enrolled in iJAG my junior year. It got me focused to stay in school and follow a career that I want. It got me focused because my instructors really pushed me to work hard and keep my grades up.”
— Jaime, from Perry
“When I first moved to Iowa, I was deprived of the previous that I had earned at my initial high school in Georgia. After I heard that I was not receiving my credits, I lost all hope in my school work and completely fell into a downward spiral until I was offered to join the iJAG program. I believe that without the iJAG program, I would have kept on my path of destruction and would inevitably just given up all together.”
— Joseph, from Keokuk
To learn how to help the iJAG students’ lives visit www.ijag.org.
