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Some high school dropouts drawn back to class

68 of 925 students have re-enrolled under city program offering ways to complete education

September 25, 2008|By Sara Neufeld , sara.neufeld@baltsun.com

Students browsing the tables learned that they could earn a high school diploma online through Baltimore City Community College. They can attend morning, afternoon or evening classes - whatever works around their employment schedules. They can spend a year or two living at the Woodstock Job Corps Center, gaining job skills in fields such as nursing and welding, in addition to academic credits. If they've completed at least freshman year and earned a minimum score on the military entrance exam, they can get a GED in only two weeks if they enlist in the National Guard and undergo an intensive 14-day program in Little Rock, Ark.

For those who are homeless, the City Steps Youth Resource Center stands ready to offer assistance. For those under supervision by the Department of Juvenile Services for criminal activity, case management is available from Operation Safe Kids.

Anderson was happy to sign up to finish his high school career at one of the city's two Youth Opportunity centers and even happier to make contact with the Marines. By late morning, he was sitting at the Marines' recruitment table as though he worked there.

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At the National Guard table, Staff. Sgt. Brian Chaney could relate to those passing through. At 16, growing up in Indiana, he dropped out of high school. That was 22 years ago. He has since earned a GED and a bachelor's degree, and he's working toward a master's. "The National Guard picked me up," he said.

A second resource fair is planned for 10 a.m. to 8 p.m. today at Frederick Douglass High School, 2301 Gwynns Falls Parkway.

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