| Title: |
National Guard Youth ChalleNGe: Program Progress in 2024-2025. Research Report. RR-A2120-3 |
| Language: |
English |
| Authors: |
Jennie W. Wenger; Stephani L. Wrabel; Linda Cottrell; RAND National Security Research Division (NRSD) |
| Source: |
RAND Corporation. 2026. |
| Availability: |
RAND Corporation. P.O. Box 2138, Santa Monica, CA 90407-2138. Tel: 877-584-8642; Tel: 310-451-7002; Fax: 412-802-4981; e-mail: order@rand.org; Web site: http://www.rand.org |
| Peer Reviewed: |
Y |
| Page Count: |
177 |
| Publication Date: |
2026 |
| Sponsoring Agency: |
Office of the Secretary of Defense (OSD) (DOD) |
| Document Type: |
Reports - Research; Tests/Questionnaires |
| Education Level: |
High Schools; Secondary Education |
| Descriptors: |
Late Adolescents; At Risk Students; Armed Forces; Residential Programs; Federal Government; Public Agencies; Educational Attainment; High School Graduates; Enrollment Rate; Graduation Rate; Youth Employment; Educational Trends; Mentors; Pilot Projects; Program Descriptions; High School Students |
| DOI: |
10.7249/RRA2120-3 |
| ISBN: |
978-1-977415-81-3 |
| Abstract: |
National Guard Youth ChalleNGe is a residential, quasi-military program serving young people ages 16 to 18 who risk not completing a high school credential. The report focuses on participants who entered the program in 2024, with some follow-up on participants who entered in 2023. The authors present metrics for the 39 Youth ChalleNGe sites that operated at least one class in 2024 and provide site- and class-level data to support decisionmaking and continuous improvement efforts. They also include high-level trends for Job ChalleNGe. As in prior reports on Youth ChalleNGe, the authors selected dimensions of the program to provide more in-depth documentation and analysis. This year, the authors document trends in the age of participants and examine the implementation of a pilot program taking a new approach to mentoring program graduates in the post-residential phase. The tenth in a series of annual reports focused on program performance, this publication is intended for Youth and Job ChalleNGe program staff and the personnel who provide program oversight. The authors provide recommendations for program and site leadership to enhance the programs and bolster participants' success. Policymakers and researchers who are focused on designing and implementing effective youth programs may also find this report useful. |
| Abstractor: |
ERIC |
| Entry Date: |
2026 |
| Accession Number: |
ED680485 |
| Database: |
ERIC |