By AP/KWMU
Nevada, MO – The Missouri National Guard is shutting down a boot camp that has served more than 800 high school dropouts in the past four years. Officials say the state's budget crunch is to blame, even though 60% of the program's budget is federal money.
The 22-week Show-Me Challenge program has been at Camp Clark in the western Missouri town of Nevada since 1998. Dropouts study for their GED while learning skills in a military-style atmosphere.
The National Guard says all 44 staff members will lose their jobs when the boot camp closes next month. About 100 students had enrolled for the upcoming session.