SCHOOLS

172 programs and counting …

Let’s create the future.

Since 1999, our passion to help students find their way and serve “Every Student. No Matter What!” has never waivered. This statement reflects our commitment to uplift youth who make experiences significant barriers to graduation, learning in-demand and employability.

We align our evidence-based program model to the unique needs of middle schools, high schools and alternative school partners across the state which may include local career education goals, workforce development needs career, soft-skill development programs and an emphasis on resiliency, leadership training, career preparedness, dropout prevention initiatives and other academic benchmarks. What makes us unique is our ability to develop a customized plan for success.

Our outcomes? Graduates who are career-ready, successfully navigating college or pursuing full-time work with iJAG’s employer connections and leaders of their generation. This is all backed through several success strategies that support statewide priorities.

Future-forward program goals:

Continue to accelerate the drive to job through relationships, relevance, rigor and results
- We can aid this goal by increasing participation in internships or apprenticeships, earn-and-learn opportunities, CTE programs and/or full-time employment
Increase use of data-driven teaching during work-based learning (WBL) and project-based learning (PBL) experiences
Continue to innovate strategies for social and emotional learning
Promote competency attainment and mastery
Continue to innovate performance measurement of soft-skills, resilience and tenacity
Improve applicability of soft-skills in various career environments by continuing to diversify employer experiences
Increase creative adaptability to performance-based assessments (PBAs), individual education plans (IEPs) or learning management systems (LMS)
Grow the percentage of students with individual development plans (IDPs)
Continue to advance student voice-and-choice
Enhance transition services for students of all grade levels for graduates and non-graduates
Continue to offer resources and strategies that support student mental health. iJAG staff partners with the Scanlan Center for School Mental Health at the University of Iowa to provide social, emotional, behavioral and psychological support to students.

“MCSD is fortunate to have four Iowa Jobs for America’s Graduates (iJAG) teachers serving our middle school, high school and alternative high school. These instructors develop positive professional relationships with our students and help them to develop college, career and life readiness skills. iJAG provides our students with work-based learning opportunities and helps our students understand the knowledge, skills, talent and attributes necessary to successfully pursue their goals and dreams

– Dr. Theron J. Schutte, Superintendent, Marshalltown Community School District