TOPEKA – For the ninth consecutive year, the Jobs for America’s Graduates national organization announced that the Kansas affiliate earned the organization’s highest award for achievement.

Additionally, 34 Jobs for America’s Graduates-Kansas (JAG-K) school-based programs earned the prestigious 6 of 6 Award (an expansion of the 5 of 5 Award previously presented by the national organization) for 2023. Each of Kansas’ four regions achieved the 6 of 6 Award standard on a regional basis.

 Area JAG-K teachers winning this award were Teresa Laraby at Great Bend High School, Israel Hagerman at Larned High School and Courtney Deyoe at Stafford High School.

The 6 of 6 Award is bestowed upon those JAG programs that meet or exceed performance measures in six categories: graduation rate, employment rate, full-time employment, total full-time positive outcomes, connectivity rate, and continued education rate for the graduating class of 2022. JAG has a 12-month follow-up period with all seniors as part of its evidence-based, data-driven national model.

JAG-K President/CEO Chuck Knapp recently presented the award to Gov. Laura Kelly, a member of the JAG National board, informing her of the state affiliate’s accomplishments in the past year.

“To receive the 6 of 6 Award for the ninth year in a row is a special accomplishment that really speaks to the hard work of all of our dedicated career specialists,” said Knapp. “More importantly, it represents success for thousands of JAG-K students over the years. The evidence-based JAG model works, and we are looking forward to seeing more positive outcomes in 2023-24.”

JAG-K helps students prepare for post-secondary education and employment opportunities. JAG-K programs across the state, serving 5,566 students, reported a graduation rate of 93% for the Class of 2022. That total exceeded the state of Kansas’ total graduation rate of 89%.