Two schools for at-risk teens run by the California National Guard are accepting applications.
The free residential programs are five-month quasimilitary programs where students can earn a high school diploma. A student is not required to join the military.
Both programs are state and federally funded for 16- to 18-year-olds who have dropped out of high school or are at risk of dropping out.
Classes begin each January and July. The National Guard Youth Challenge academies are operated by the California National Guard and the Orange County and San Luis Obispo County Offices of Education.
Students, who have to volunteer for the programs, must commit to change their lives. They will get a chance to catch up on education and learn job skills.
For additional information or to request an application, call (800) 926-0643 for San Luis Obispo or (877) 463-1921 for Los Alamitos.
Interested students or their parents can also view the program's Web site at www.ngycp.org and click on California.
Call The Bee's Bill Lindelof, (916) 321-1079.
