I-JAG Program in Danger of Being Cut

By Katie Wiedemann, Reporter

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By Katie Wiedemann

Story Created: Apr 3, 2009 at 4:28 PM CST

Story Updated: Apr 3, 2009 at 4:28 PM CST

Dubuque - A state funded program designed to keep high school students from dropping out, is in danger of being cut.
Lawmakers are considering cutting funding for the state's I-JAG program.
I-JAG stands for Iowa Jobs for America's Graduates.

Hempstead High School Junior Brandon Schreiber dreams of working in politics.
What a difference a school year makes.
Schreiber said, "I had a 1.2 GPA I was dangerously close to failing out this year. This program has turned my grades around I now carry about a 3.2"

Schreiber and many of these students were barely passing classes, on the verge of dropping out.

Hempstead Student Sami Schmidt said, "Some of the stuff, I was kind of lazy I just didn't want to do anything."

During this class, Judi Simon helps the students with homework. They work on resumes, college and job applications and mock interviews.

Simon said, "They could be special ed, or have ADHD is considered a disability. They could have low income or their parents could be in jail."

Simon believes if it wasn't for the help of I-JAG at least 20 students would have dropped out.

State-wide the I-JAG program has a 93 percent graduation rate. But that success comes with a hefty price tag.

Simon said, "It sounds like the whole six-thousand dollars which is a third of our budget will be cut."

The rest of the funding comes from the private sector. Simon fears that money will also slip away.
She says that's not good enough for these students who have turned their failures into futures.

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