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 on April 24, 2024. An email will be sent to all advisors when the Advisor Portal is open to submit an intent.

KYA 2024 Conference Dates Registration Deadlines Payment Deadline Need Based Scholarship Deadline
High School 1November 13-15October 23November 6October 9
High School 2November 21-23October 31November 14October 17
High School 3November 24-26November 1November 15October 18
High School 4December 4-6November 13November 26October 30
Middle School 1November 4-6October 14October 28September 30
Middle School 2November 7-9October 17October 31October 3
Middle School 3December 8-10November 18December 2November 4

KYA 2024 Program Fees

STUDENT FEES
TBD for Student Y MembersTBD for Non-Members
ADVISOR FEES
TBD for Advisors with Shared Room | TBD 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) - returning this year (24/25), bill sponsors will be able to meet with Presiding Officers over Zoom 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! Check back here for meeting dates in the Fall and to sign up!

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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