Local JAG programs threatened due to current state budget

"JAG provides hope, purpose, and a clear path forward," one superintendent said.

(INDIANAPOLIS) – A transformative program for high schoolers is threatened to be cut due to shuffling in the state budget. 

Jobs For America’s Graduates (JAG) is a program that provides high school students with employability and life skills in preparation for life after graduation.  

The program, historically funded through the Department of Workforce Development, is projected to move to the Department of Education in the current version of the Indiana House budget, with its funding no longer guaranteed. 

Here in Southeast Indiana, there are 23 programs in 17 high schools and while each has their own in-house teacher, it is operated through the Southeast Indiana Workforce Board (SEIWIB) and River Valley Resources. 

SEIWIB Executive Director Kurt Kegerreis said JAG is just as much of a workforce program as educational, as students are followed for a year after graduation to ensure they end up in employment, higher education and/or military service.

"JAG is quite literally an investment in Indiana's future workforce, which our employer partners clearly recognize,” Kegerreis said.

Just last year, Honda Indiana Auto Plant helped contribute to the expansion of JAG into Greensburg, North and South Decatur high schools. 

During the announcement event last June, Honda Indiana Auto Plant Leader Roxanne Metz said, “Honda recognizes the importance of building the future generation of workforce and we are proud to support the expansion of JAG in our community.”

Here is a video from the Honda announcement:

The importance of JAG is also felt by school administrators. Lawrenceburg Superintendent Karl Galey said the program has had a transformative impact on students. 

“At a time when so many young people face overwhelming challenges—be it poverty, trauma, or a lack of direction—JAG provides hope, purpose, and a clear path forward. It empowers students not only to stay in school and graduate, but to develop the job readiness and life skills that lead to meaningful careers and postsecondary success,” Galey said. 

JAG is more than just a program—it’s a lifeline, and we’re proud to be part of a mission that changes lives every single day,” he added. 

Additionally, Greensburg Community School District Superintendent Tom Hunter has described JAG as the "most impactful program we have added at Greensburg High School in the past 25 years."

Local students succeeding in the program

There were more than 7,000 Indiana students in JAG classes statewide in 2024.

The students earned a 96% graduation rate and more-than-half of them found immediate job placements. 

Locally, Students like Milan’s Shelby Williams and South Ripley’s Angel Tunny have been shining examples of the success of the program.

The seniors both hold statewide leadership positions, have attended national conferences and Tunny has served as a student representative of the program. 

They recently joined Congresswoman Erin Houchin to discuss the program which will air on a podcast here. 

As for a solution, Kegerreis says the program can be saved by not adding a dollar to the proposed budget. 

He points to a recently-proposed amendment that could restore the $8M line item for JAG while reducing the newly-proposed “Freedom and Opportunity in Education” block grant by the same amount. 

If allowed to continue, he anticipates the number of students enrolled in JAG classes statewide to exceed 10,000 by this fall.