On Monday, December 15, Richland One received a $200,000 grant from the AT&T Foundation to implement a program to reduce high school drop out rates. The program will be housed on the campus of C.A. Johnson Preparatory Academy. Pictured (l- r), are SC Secretary of Commerce Joe Taylor, the president of AT&T- SC Pamela Lackey, and Richland One Superintendent Dr. Percy Mack. Richland One is the first school district in Columbia to be awarded a $200,000 grant from the AT&T Foundation to create a Jobs for America's Graduates (JAG) Program. JAG is a highly successful national drop- out prevention program with a 95% retention rate and multiple benefits. Its primary focus is to help reduce high school drop out rates by teaching at- risk students how to get and retain jobs. Richland One's JAG program will be housed on the campus of C.A. Johnson Preparatory Academy.

Richland One Superintendent Dr. Percy Mack expressed his gratitude for the award and AT&T's commitment to help Richland One students succeed. "It takes all of us to make sure our youngsters have a chance because they are so, so deserving," said Dr. Mack. "We are excited, and we thank AT&T for partnering with us."

Richland One graduate and JAG ambassador Corey Jenkins praised the JAG program. "This is a great opportunity for Richland One," said Jenkins. "I've seen this program change the lives of children around South Carolina."

Pamela Lackey, the president of AT&T- SC, presented the grant check to district officials at C.A. Johnson this morning during a news conference, which was also attended by SC Secretary of Commerce Joe Taylor, Columbia City Councilman E. W. Cromartie, Representative Leon Howard (D- SC), and JAG- SC Statewide Coordinator Elaine Midkiff.

The JAG program utilizes an intensive curriculum based on using realworld job skills to move atrisk students toward successful careers and decrease the likelihood of dropping out of high school. The program is expected to start at the C.A. Johnson Preparatory Academy in late January 2009.

For more information please contact the Richland One Office of Communications at 231-7504 or 231-7510.