Kentucky Youth Assembly (KYA)

KYA Overview

The Kentucky Youth Assembly (KYA) is an expanded, educational opportunity in which students serve as part of a model state government. KYA offers students the opportunity to learn about a wide variety of issues, develop critical thinking skills, and articulate their beliefs while engaging constructively with their peers from around the Commonwealth.

KYA Intents will open in April 2024. Keep checking back here for updates.

KYA 2023 Conference Dates Registration Deadlines Payment Deadline
High School 1November 12-14October 19October 27
High School 2November 19-21October 26November 3
High School 3Nov. 29 - Dec. 1November 6November 15
High School 4*December 10-12November 16November 22
Middle School 1November 16-18October 24November 2
Middle School 2December 3-5November 9November 17
Middle School 3December 14-16November 21November 30

KYA 2023 Program Fees

STUDENT FEES
$275 for Student Y Members | $285 for Non-Members
ADVISOR FEES
$150 for Advisors with Shared Room | $275 for Advisors with Private Room

Students are encouraged to apply for Need-Based Scholarship prior to payment.

Disclaimer: Any conference could be moved virtually or condensed depending on registration numbers

Note: After each KYA season, we take feedback from advisors, students and Y-Staff to continually improve our programming. The up-to-date changes document for our KYA program are available on our KYA Resources page

Program Areas

At KYA, students participate in one of the Program Areas at the Assembly based on their grade and experience. Each area is led by Presiding and Supporting Officers, with a variety of Delegate Roles available to participants:

Commonwealth House & Senate | HS & MS | See Eligibility Chart

The highest level of our House and Senate – Commonwealth delegates research, write, and debate bills on state policy issues. The number of Commonwealth Bills delegations can sponsor depends on how many Commonwealth delegates they have attending KYA.

The Legislative Research Commission (HS CW Only) - new this year (2023/24), bill sponsors will be able to meet with Presiding Officers over Zoom every Tuesday from October 3, 2023-November 7, 2023 to get feedback on their bills and ensure they're in the correct format and Constitutional. All bills that are Constitutional will be given the LRC Seal of Approval on their CW bill in their conference bill book! Sign up to join a session here!

Presiding Officers
Speaker of CW House
Pres. of CW Senate

Supporting Officers
Clerk of CW House
Clerk of CW Senate
Committee Chairs / Pro Tem.

Delegate Roles
Representatives & Senators
Bill Sponsors (1-4 per bill)
Doorkeepers(1 per sch.)

Bluegrass House & Senate | HS & MS | See Eligibility Chart

The introductory level of our House and Senate – Bluegrass delegates research, write, and debate bills on state policy issues. The number of Bluegrass Bills delegations can sponsor depends on how many Bluegrass delegates they have attending KYA.

Presiding Officers*
Speaker of BG House
Pres. of BG Senate

Supporting Officers
Clerk of CW House
Clerk of CW Senate
Committee Chairs / Pro Tem.

Delegate Roles
Representatives & Senators
Bill Sponsors (1-4 per bill)
Doorkeepers(1 per sch.)

Media Corps | HS Only | Gr. 10-12, 1 per delegation Media delegates craft compelling news stories on important Assembly topics. Students will find themselves working on written journalism, social media, photo journalism, and broadcast journalism.

Presiding Officers
Editor-in-Chief

Supporting Officers
Assistant Editor(s)

Delegate Roles
Media Delegates

Supreme Court | HS Only | Gr. 10-12, 1 team of 1-3 students per delegation

A first-come, first-served program, Supreme Court delegates serve as attorneys presenting oral arguments before the KYA Supreme Court made up of student Justices, and also advise the Attorney General on the constitutionality of bills passed by the Commonwealth House and Senate.

Presiding Officers
Chief Justice
Attorney General

Supporting Officers
Justices (6)
Clerk of the Supreme Court

Delegate Roles
Attorneys (1 team per del.)

Exec. Cabinet & Lobbyists | HS & MS | 1 Lobbyist per Commonwealth Bill

Lobbyist delegates represent clients by using advocacy and networking to influence debate in the Commonwealth House and Senate and persuade Cabinet Secretaries to support their positions. *At Middle School KYA, the Governor, Lt. Governor, and their Chiefs of Staff are the only members of the Executive branch.

Presiding Officers
Governor
Lt. Governor
Sec. of Exec. Cabinet
Secretary of State

Supporting Officers
Gov. Chief of Staff
Lt. Gov. Chief of Staff
Cabinet Secretaries (5)

Delegate Roles
Lobbyists

Leadership

Presiding Officers are Student Y members elected from candidates or chosen by their program area to serve as Assembly leadership. They are assisted by Supporting Officers to ensure that their respective Program Areas are running smoothly. All Officers are supported by YMCA professionals, advisors, alumni, and parent volunteers.

Students interested in running for an elected Presiding Officer position should visit the Candidate and Election page to declare and review guidelines in preparation for their campaigns.

Assembly Agenda

To get an idea of what takes place on each day of KYA, please view our sample agendas – one for High School KYA and another for Middle School KYA – that will help provide information on the timing and flow of the assembly.

Sample HS KYA Agenda
Sample MS KYA Agenda
Sample KYA Food Agenda

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