American Councils for International Education: ACTR/ACCELS announces the 2010-11 FLEX Exchange Program for high school students. This is a US Government sponsored program which offers the opportunity to spend one academic year in the US studying in an American high school and living with an American host family. Recipients of FLEX scholarships are selected by an independent panel of experienced educators in the United States on the basis of merit demonstrated in application materials.

The competition is open to all interested students who meet the following criteria:

• Are 9-th, 10-th and 11-th* graders born between January 1, 1993 - July 15, 1995;
• Are citizens of Moldova;
• Are in good academic standing (at least 8,00 point average);
• Have previously studied English and demonstrate English language ability at the time of registration;
• Have not lived in the United States for more than three months in the last five years;
• Meet the requirements for receiving and maintaining a US visa;
• Meet the requirements for receiving a Moldovan passport.

* The Ministry of Education of Moldova requires that FLEX finalists returning from the program year in the U.S. complete the 12th form in Moldova.

To participate in the first round of the competition all eligible candidates have to come to a test center with the following items:

• Original birth certificate, international passport or national ID;
• One 4x5 recent photograph;
• A pencil and a pen.

Testing will take place in the following centers:

* To be tested in Chisinau all eligible students have to register at the American Councils office between September 21 - October 2, 2009. In order to register, the candidates need to bring the original birth certificate or international passport or national ID and a 4x5 recent photograph.

Students with disabilities who are currently studying in the 8^th, 9^th, 10^th, 11^th or 12^th grade and were born between 15 March 1992 and 15 July 1995 are encouraged to participate in the competition.

This program offers an equal opportunity to all applicants and does not discriminate on the basis of race, national or ethnic origin, gender, religion, or disability.

Contact information:

American Councils for International Education: ACTR-ACCELS

37 B Tricolorului Str., Chisinau, Moldova 2012

Phone: 225860

Email:  flex@americancouncils.md

http://apps.americancouncils.org/FLEX

www.americancouncils.md