JAG Programs Align with Executive and National Push for Skilled Trades and Apprenticeship Pathways
A new Executive Order is refocusing federal workforce efforts on skilled trades, non-college pathways, and stronger transitions from school to work. These are areas where Jobs for America’s Graduates (JAG) has led for more than four decades.
Issued in April 2025, Executive Order 14278: Preparing Americans for High-Paying Skilled Trade Jobs of the Future directs the Departments of Education, Labor, and Commerce to modernize and better align federal education and workforce programs to address labor market needs. A central objective of the order is to “reach and surpass one million active apprenticeships” by strengthening connections between education systems and high-demand career pathways.
JAG is already delivering on this vision.
In more than 1,500 communities across 31 states, JAG serves over 80,000 students annually through in-school programs combining academic support, employability skills, early exposure to skilled trades, and work-based learning. JAG’s classroom-to-career approach and consistent student achievement reflect its alignment with federal workforce priorities:
- JAG students consistently achieve a 95 percent high school graduation rate.
- More than 80 percent placement in employment, postsecondary education, or training.
- Twelve-month post-program follow-up supports sustained student outcomes.
- JAG’s model is a structured, scalable pre-apprenticeship pipeline that bridges the gap between high school and high-demand careers. These results make JAG a strong contributor to federal efforts to expand data-driven, apprenticeship-aligned pathways.
State Alignment and Local Integration
JAG programs are integrated within state systems and frequently aligned with Career and Technical Education (CTE) strategies:
- In Tennessee and Louisiana, JAG is formally recognized as part of each state’s CTE framework.
- In Oklahoma, JAG operates within the Department of Career and Technology Education.
- In Alabama, JAG is housed within the Department of Education’s CTE and Workforce Development division.
- In Iowa, iJAG is building formal links to the state’s pre-apprenticeship system to support Registered Apprenticeship alignment.
These examples reflect how JAG strengthens secondary-to-workforce pathways and reinforces the relevance of public education to labor market needs.
Bridging Education and Employment
JAG’s approach emphasizes career-connected learning, credentialed pathways, and strong employer partnerships in the manufacturing, construction, logistics, and healthcare sectors. Its cost-effective, school-based model supports the Executive Order’s focus on expanding access to high-wage, high-demand occupations through non-degree pathways.
Federal Engagement and Policy Alignment
JAG is actively engaged in federal discussions around Executive Order 14278. This includes recent conversations with the U.S. Department of Education’s Office of Career, Technical, and Adult Education (OCTAE). These discussions reflect growing interest in scalable, school-based models that strengthen the connection between education and employment for students not pursuing a traditional four-year degree.
Looking Ahead
As the federal government develops a comprehensive workforce strategy under Executive Order 14278, programs like JAG offer proven, field-tested models for preparing young people for high-demand careers and apprenticeship pathways.
JAG encourages state and local partners to share program outcomes, highlight success stories, and demonstrate alignment with national workforce goals. Together, we can help build a more connected, modern workforce system that better prepares young people for the future.
Reach out the development@jag.org and lets change prepare the future workforce together!