From The Daily Record

Leaders of the North Carolina General Assembly invite North Carolina high school students to apply for the annual Youth Legislative Assembly (YLA).

The North Carolina General Assembly’s Legislative Services Office is now accepting applications for this year’s conference, slated for March 7-9, 2025, in Raleigh. Applications will be accepted through Jan. 16, 2025. The application can be found online at https://www.ncleg.gov/YLA .

“North Carolina’s Youth Legislative Assembly offers students a unique opportunity to learn firsthand about the legislative process and to develop leadership skills that will help them succeed in life,” stated Senate President Pro Tempore Phil Berger and House Speaker Tim Moore in a release. “We are proud to continue this long tradition of helping prepare our state’s future leaders.”

The YLA teaches high school students about the laws governing North Carolina’s citizens as well as the lawmaking process. Students draft, debate, and vote on mock legislative bills while developing skills in research, interviewing, group facilitation, and policy writing. As the bills are debated, the students get a chance to practice communicating their ideas, opinions, and experiences in a team-building environment.

At the conclusion of the three-day program, the participants have a better understanding of the lawmaking process as well as enhanced written and oral communication skills.

The YLA provides the opportunity for North Carolina’s youth to engage with peers from across the state in a structured, positive, youth-focused environment. The YLA program is open to students in North Carolina who are in good standing at a public, private, charter, or home school, or dual enrolled students.

For more information, email YLA Coordinator erica.gallion@ncleg.gov or call 919-301-1372.

The preceding article originally appeared on October 1, 2024 at The Daily Record’s website and is made available here for educational purposes only. This constitutes a ‘fair use’ of any such copyrighted material as provided for in Title 17 U.S.C. section 106A-117 of the U.S. Copyright Law.