The Moldovan students who want to spend one academic year in the U.S. studying in an American high school and living with an American host family can apply to the 2011-12 FLEX Program for high school students, Info-Prim Neo reports, quoting a communique from the American Councils for International Education. Only students of the 9th, 10th and 11th grades, born after 1 January 1994 and before 15 July 1996, are eligible for FLEX. Forty-five Moldovan students will be chosen for the program this year. They will receive a scholarship that provides round-trip domestic and international travel (from home to the United States and back) and medical insurance. Recipients of FLEX scholarships are selected by an independent panel of experienced American professionals in education and international relations in the United States on the basis of merit demonstrated in application materials. Starting with September 15, the panel will visit 15 Moldovan district centers, including the municipality of Chisinau, to conduct testing. To participate in the first round of the competition – an English language test - all eligible candidates have to come to a test center with the following items: original birth certificate; one 4x5 recent photograph; a pencil and a pen. Testing will take place in the following centers: [Stefan Voda] (September 15, “D. Cantemir” high school), [Anenii Noi] (September 16, “Hyperion” high school), [Cimislia] (September 21, “M. Eminescu” high school), [Comrat] (September 22, “G. Gaidarji” high school), [Ceadar-Lunga] (September 23, “M. Guboglo” high school), [Cahul] (September 24, “D. Cantemir” high school), [Rezina] (September 27, “Stefan cel Mare” high school), [Orhei] (September 28, “A. Russo” high school), [Calarasi] (September 29, “M. Sadoveanu” high school) [Ungheni] (September 30, “V. Alecsandri” high school), [Hancesti] (Octover 1, “M. Sadoveanu” high school), [Edinet] (October 4, “D. Cantemir” high school), [Drochia] (October 5, the high school located at 5A, 31 August St), [Balti] (October 6, “G. Cosbuc” high school). The second round usually takes place the next day after the the first round is held. The Chisinau high school students can submit applications to the American Councils office by September 17. The tests will be taken on September 18. For further details, visit http://americancouncils.md/flex_reg/. The Ministry of Education of Moldova requires that FLEX finalists returning from the program year in the U.S. complete the 12th grade in Moldova. The FLEX Program is a US government-sponsored program for high school students from Moldova, Russia, Armenia, Azerbaijan, Georgia, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan, and Ukraine.