In light of our concern about the risk of losing a generation of youth due to the widespread effects of the pandemic, we are delighted to report to you that USA Today has published an op-ed authored by Governor John Bel Edwards (D-Louisiana) and Governor Kim Reynolds (R-Iowa), Chair and Vice Chair of the Jobs for America’s Graduates Board of Directors.
We as governors — along with decision makers in state legislatures, school boards, workforce boards, and city and county governments — assess each day the growing damage of COVID-19 to our economic, educational, social and health care systems. We are especially concerned about the millions of young Americans who have been away from school for many weeks and graduating seniors who seek to enter the workforce and higher education.
The latest national data highlights the growing risk that we may lose a critical part of our next generation.
Federal Reserve Chairman Jerome Powell noted that 40% of all householdsearning $40,000 or less lost their jobs in March. Further, recent surveys of teachers reveal increases in truancy (27%) and dramatic declines in student engagement — up to 50% or higher in some cases, especially among poor and vulnerable youth, as the school year came to a close.
We are honored to lead Jobs for America’s Graduates, which has helped highly vulnerable youth graduate and successfully transition to the workforce or post-secondary education for more than 40 years. For a year after high school graduation, JAG staff follow up and support graduates to ensure that they secure good jobs leading to good careers and, if they are interested, enter post-secondary education to add to their skills and their chances in the labor market.