State jobs program wins national honor

The state’s Jobs for Arkansas Graduates program has once again been honored by the national Jobs for America’s Graduates for meeting student achievement goals in five performance categories.

The Arkansas program, one of 33 programs nationally, is an effort to assist at-risk and disadvantaged youths in graduating from high school or earning a General Education Development certificate, and then finding high-quality jobs.

The program is offered in 102 Arkansas schools by the Arkansas Department of Career Education’s Career and Technical Education division.

The 5-of-5 National Performance Award, received by Arkansas every year since 2007, recognizes states that meet goals for graduation rates, positive outcomes rates, aggregate employment rates, full-time jobs rates and full-time placement rates.

Gov. Asa Hutchinson, a member of the national board of directors for Jobs for America’s Graduates, said Arkansas is setting a national example by providing education and work opportunities to youth from disadvantaged communities.

“Arkansas’ designation as a 5-of-5 National Performance Award recipient demonstrates our continued commitment to finding innovative ways to provide access to quality career and technical education to our students,” Hutchinson said.