Department of Education
Kevin Huffman, Commissioner

Jobs for Tennessee Graduates (JTG)

Jobs for Tennessee Graduates (JTG) is a state program coordinated  within the Division of Career & Techical Education funded in partnership with the TN Department of Education and the TN Department of Labor & Workforce Development. The program is designed to assist at-risk and disadvantaged youth in graduating from high school and finding and keeping quality jobs. Tennessee only funds senior school-to-career transition programs although JAG offers other options. Through classroom instruction, community orientation and career association activities, students develop competencies in 37 essential employability skills. After leaving school, all students are provided follow-up services for a period of one year. JTG is a state affiliate of Jobs for America’s Graduates, Inc. (JAG), a national non-profit public service corporation.  JAG-Tennessee or JTG was awarded its state charter in 1981 and now has programs in 52 high schools ans serves over 1200 students a year.   JTG has been awarded the JAG National Five of Five Award for the last four consecutaive years which includes follow-up data for the class of 2008 with a Graduation Rate of 97.12%, Positive Outcome Rate 84.99%, Job Placement Rate 65.58%, Full-time Jobs Rate 67.93%, Full-time Placement Rate 89.80%, and a Further Education Rate 46.08%.

    Jobs for America’s Graduates (JAG)

Jobs for America’s Graduates, Inc. (JAG) is a national non-profit corporation established in 1980 for the purpose of assisting state affiliates in building a statewide organization to implement one or more of the four (4) program applications of the JAG Model.

• School-to-Career Program (Seniors Only)
• Multi-Year/Dropout Prevention Program (Grades 9-12)
• Out-of-School Program (Out-of-School Students Only)
• Middle School Program (Grades 7-8)  New Program

JAG serves young people with barriers to success and now operates in 32 states. The more barriers to  success that a young person might have, the more he or she is considered “at- risk” of graduating from high school or having a successful transition from school  to an entry level job that leads to a career or postsecondary education.

Through a formal affiliation agreement with JAG, state affiliates receive JAG Model Books, training and technical assistance to implement the JAG Model. JAG affiliates also benefit from the national leadership of over thirty public and private sector chief executives, including ten Governors and several corporate executives, who serve on the JAG Board of Directors.

After more than two decades (29 years) of operation, JAG has proven to be one of the most cost-effective and successful state-level strategies for tackling high dropout rates, low academic performance, youth unemployment, and other critical issues related to at-risk youth.  JAG reported that the follow-up data for the class of 2008 as follows:  Graduation Rate: 94%, Positive Outcome Rate: 79%, Job Placement Rate: 57%, Full-time Jobs Rate: 66%, Full-time Placement Rate: 89%, and Further Education Rate: 46%.