National Guard Youth ChalleNGe is a residential, quasi-military program for young people ages 16 to 18 who are experiencing difficulty in traditional high school. This report covers the program years 2021–2022 and is the seventh in a series of annual reports that RAND Corporation researchers have issued over the course of two research projects. Each report documents the progress of participants entering ChalleNGe during specific program years.

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National Guard Youth ChalleNGe

Program Progress in 2021–2022

by Jennie W. Wenger, Linda Cottrell, Stephani L. Wrabel

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Research Questions

  1. What continuing effects has the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic had on ChalleNGe sites?
  2. Where staffing ChalleNGe sites has become difficult, what factors could be causing hiring issues?

National Guard Youth ChalleNGe is a residential, quasi-military program for young people ages 16 to 18 who are experiencing difficulty in traditional high school. This report covers the program years 2021–2022 and is the seventh in a series of annual reports that RAND Corporation researchers have issued over the course of two research projects.

Each annual report supports the program's annual report to Congress and documents the progress of participants who entered ChalleNGe during specific program years. In this report, the authors provide information on program participants in 2021, as well as some follow-up information on those who entered the program in 2020.

This report draws primarily on quantitative program and site data but also draws on analyses of existing literature, quantitative data describing the civilian labor market, and qualitative data collected from virtual site visits and interviews. Caveats to be considered include some documented inconsistencies in reported data across sites and the short-run nature of many of the metrics reported here.

Key Findings

  • The ChalleNGe program continues to recover from the disruptions caused by the COVID-19 pandemic.
  • 2021 class performance resembled or exceeded pre-pandemic levels on many measures, including the graduation rate. However, some placement outcomes continue to be disrupted by conditions that may be related to the pandemic.
  • During the pandemic, sites modified many aspects of operations. The sites exhibited flexibility by adjusting their modifications in response to changing conditions.
  • Hiring cadre (staff who are not instructors but work with and monitor participants) is most difficult in areas where cadre pay lags the veteran benchmark. In contrast, hiring instructors is most difficult in areas where instructor pay is low in absolute terms.

Recommendations

  • ChalleNGe sites should all adopt the newest version of the Test of Adult Basic Education (TABE) and examine any requirements based on specific TABE scores.
  • The ChalleNGe and Job ChalleNGe programs should adopt long-term measures of graduate success and continue working to develop the data systems necessary to track this success.
  • Sites should work with mentors and with current cadets to make sure they are provided with information and resources to apply to postsecondary programs, even if the cadets choose not to apply immediately.
  • ChalleNGe sites should track staff turnover and local wages, as well as staff satisfaction and working conditions.

Table of Contents

  • Chapter One

    Introduction: The National Guard Youth ChalleNGe Program

  • Chapter Two

    Data and Analyses, 2021 ChalleNGe Classes

  • Chapter Three

    Data and Analyses, ChalleNGe Site Operations

  • Chapter Four

    Closing Thoughts, Recommendations, and Next Steps

  • Appendix A

    Supplemental Information on ChalleNGe Sites

  • Appendix B

    Supplemental Information on Local Labor Market Data

Research conducted by

This research was sponsored by the Office of the Assistant Secretary of Defense for Manpower and Reserve Affairs and conducted within the Personnel, Readiness, and Health Program of the RAND National Security Research Division (NSRD).

This report is part of the RAND Corporation Research report series. RAND reports present research findings and objective analysis that address the challenges facing the public and private sectors. All RAND reports undergo rigorous peer review to ensure high standards for research quality and objectivity.

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