Montana Youth Challenge Academy Graduates Most Successful Class Yet
Application period starts Monday for Class #51 starting in July
In today’s society and economy, it is more important than ever for youth to find a path to high school completion. The Montana Youth Challenge Academy (MYCA) supports young adults, known in the program as cadets, from every corner of our state, in developing the skills necessary to become productive citizens.
Through the years the academy has evolved its educational offerings to become a major partner with school districts throughout Montana. These partnerships help cadets achieve high school diplomas through state aligned curriculum delivered by Montana-certified teachers. Many students achieve a high school equivalency through the HiSET (formerly GED) exam so they can move on to the workforce. Other students earn credits and return to high school for a traditional diploma.
Recently, Class 49 (graduated December 2023) achieved an impressive 75% pass rate on the HiSET exam, surpassing the national average of 60% among high school juniors and seniors.
Considering that the academy was designed for young adults who are struggling in a conventional education setting and have fallen behind in credits required for graduation, a 75% pass rate on a battery of tests, such as the HiSET, is a significant accomplishment!
MYCA’s variety of graduation pathways resulted in 66 cadets completing the program with a diploma in hand (a combination of HiSETs, state, and district-issued diplomas). Another 39 cadets earned high school credits to apply towards traditional diplomas. Those 39 cadets will return to their hometown high schools to complete the remaining requirements and graduate with their peers. As a collective, Class 49 also earned 137 professional certificates (phlebotomy, CPR/First Aid, and OSHA-10 to name a few). Lastly, 96 college credits were earned by cadets through the academy’s partnership with The University of Montana Western.
The emphasis on structure, ability-grouped classes, hands-on learning opportunities, and tutoring resources are among some of the distinctive features of the Youth Challenge Model of youth development—a proven delivery method.
The Montana National Guard Youth Challenge Academy is a residential academic intervention program on the campus of the University of Montana Western for 16 to 18 year old students who are seeking an opportunity for change. Designed by the National Guard Bureau and run through a cooperative agreement between the federal government and the state of Montana, the academy offers military-style structure and discipline along with the academic, professional and life-coping skills students need to become productive citizens.
Program Overview
The Montana Youth Challenge Academy is a preventive program designed to improve life outcomes for its participants.
Applicants must be voluntary, meet the necessary age requirements, and either have dropped out of school or are not satisfactorily progressing, unemployed or under-employed, drug-free and crime-free.
It is the only program of its kind to provide graduates with a personal mentor for one year to help with the transition into adulthood.
Challenge empowers participants (cadets) to embrace responsibility, achievement and positive behavior. It instills self-confidence, fosters ambition and increases opportunities through job skills training, service to the community and leadership.
A multi-year study by RAND Corporation, on behalf of the Department of Defense, has found that program participants achieve impressive results in educational attainment and employment. Key findings of that study include:
GED or high school diploma attainment increased by 29%;
college attendance increased by 86%; and
annual earnings increased by 20%.
According to RAND's cost-benefit analysis, every government dollar invested in Youth Challenge Programs yields $2.66 in benefits – a return on investment of 166%. This return is substantially higher than other rigorously evaluated social programs that target disadvantaged youth. Youth Challenge is unmatched in its effectiveness in helping young people prepare for the future.
If you or someone you know could benefit from this program, there is information for students, parents and people interested in becoming mentors at the MYCA website. If you would like to support the Montana Youth Challenge Academy by volunteering or with a monetary donation, find information HERE.