Des Moines high school students earned postsecondary credits through the Iowa Jobs for America’s Graduates program, paving the way for a full launch next year
Des Moines Area Community College (DMACC) has successfully completed a concurrent enrollment pilot program with Des Moines Public Schools (DMPS) involving more than 50 students from two Des Moines high schools. These DMPS students earned postsecondary credits while attending classes through Iowa Jobs for America's Graduates (iJAG) program. A full launch involving all DMPS high schools is planned for next school year.
“Earning postsecondary credits while in high school helps these students build self-confidence, overall wellness and preparation for the real-world," said Karen Swanson, Director of Work Based Learning & Career Advantage at DMACC. “Concurrent enrollment is when high school students enroll in a college-level classes and earn credits toward both their high school diploma and a college degree. These DMACC classes are offered at little or no cost to the student."
The pilot program launched in January 2024 at North and Roosevelt High Schools in Des Moines. To facilitate the courses, iJAG Education Specialists who work in the classroom are certified by DMACC. Courses featured project-based learning concepts to challenge students with real-world situations in the workplace, as well as work-based learning, which focused on developing employability skills such as professionalism, organization and communication.
Select students were able to translate their learnings to job shadows and paid on-the-job training experiences with iJAG employer partners. iJAG is a statewide nonprofit that helps school districts deliver career development programs within the high schools.
“The success of this collaboration among our organizations and the expansion of work-based learning within these high schools is a successful model for helping to students succeed in today's workplace," said Rob Denson, DMACC President. “As part of this initiative, the students are eligible to participate in a paid internship through the Iowa Learns™ program. Students will engage in an authentic work-experience opportunity while earning DMACC college credit as part of the programming."
“The partnership between iJAG, DMACC and DMPS to offer concurrent enrollment is an exemplary practice with tremendous potential for scalable impact on our students," said Dr. Ian Roberts, Superintendent for DMPS. “The program's combination of exposing DMPS students to a rigorous postsecondary program while offering multiple opportunities for job readiness bodes well to improve every graduate's employability while cultivating the competencies for them to successfully navigate their postsecondary journey."
“Not only did the DMACC course prepare our students for the real-time needs of Iowa employers, but it educated our young people on how to obtain and maintain a job," said Chris Ford, Education Specialist for iJAG at Des Moines North High School.
“At iJAG, we serve as the bridge between education and the workplace – and in this case, we are fortunate to serve multiple educational institutions!" said Dr. Wendy Mihm-Herold, President and CEO for iJAG. “We continue to forge relationships with postsecondary colleges so that we can help our students reach academic milestones which in turn promotes continued learning in Iowa and increases their likelihood for lifelong success."
DMPS is just one of 73 school districts who partner with iJAG for in-class career
development programming which includes leadership training, career education, individualized
guidance and employer engagement. Middle school and high school students who participate
in iJAG at their school are more likely to graduate, transition successfully to the
workplace and experience positive outcomes.
Contacts:
- DMACC: Karen Swanson, Director of Work Based Learning & Career Advantage at DMACC, (515) 964-6572, kswanson4@dmacc.edu
- iJAG: Wendy Mihm-Herold, President & CEO, Iowa Jobs for America's Graduates (iJAG), (563) 379-3969, wendy.mihm-herold@ijag.org