What are YLA Communities?
YLA COMMUNITIES
VISION
Youth Leaders for America (YLA) Coπmmunities are groups of homeschooling Christian American Patriot families in Utah dedicated to giving homeschool youth, and families, a place to belong, learn and thrive together. Families join a YLA community for shared social and educational experiences based on the Leadership Education Model and principles outlined in “A Thomas Jefferson Education” by Oliver Demille.
As non denominational Christian communities, we welcome all who uphold principles of faith, freedom and family unity. Each YLA Community works to support, not replace, the family as the center of learning and honors each individual as the steward of their own education.
MISSION
The mission of all YLA Communities is to raise up youth who love learning, work hard, embody a moral foundation of truth, virtue, compassion, liberty and courage, who will be prepared to lead, uphold faith and freedom and positively impact the world for good. We do this by building communities that provide youth and parents with educational classes and experiences, social events and activities as well as service and leadership opportunities.
PLATFORM
The leadership education principles outlined in the book, “A Thomas Jefferson Education” by Oliver Demille creates the platform which all YLA Communities stand upon. Thomas Jefferson Education (TJED) is an educational philosophy that builds leaders. TJED is not technically a method, but more of a philosophy about how to provide an education that will develop leaders and statesmen. One can use almost any educational method and still apply the principles of TJED, which are grounded in the Phases of Learning and the 7 Keys of Great Teaching. Standards of excellence, quality, responsibility and hard work will be taught and upheld within each YLA community.
MEMBERSHIP
YLA IS NOT A “ONE SIZE FITS ALL” COMMUNITY?
YLA may be right for you if you can answer affirmatively to the following statements:
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Our family has been homeschooling the youth interested in attending YLA for a minimum of 1 full year, in the last 12 months or more, and we want to be contributing members of a homeschool community of like-minded individuals
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We are looking for classes and social activities for our homeschool youth ages 12 and older
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Our family upholds principles of Christian faith, freedom and family unity
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We have read, or will commit to read, A Thomas Jefferson Education by Oliver Demille by the end of our first semester at YLA
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We can commit to a minimum of 5 volunteer hours in the community and to attending one parent night per semester
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We are looking for passionate mentors, not particular curriculum or program
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My homeschool student(s) have the attention span to sit through and be respectful in a group classroom environment without me there
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I will support my YLA scholar(s) in fulfilling their commitments for class with a good environment for study and helping them to understand and follow through with their assignments as needed
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I am looking for classes to supplement my youths' home education and social experiences, not a full course load or a complete education program
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I will be responsible for communicating with each mentor my scholar chooses to enroll with and can help them keep track of their assignments
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We want to be part of a flexible group that has many different social options for our homeschool youth and understand that it is also a family commitment to a community we are willing to contribute to
YLA MEMBER REQUIREMENTS
Because the Leadership Education model is the foundation of all YLA Communities and Scholar Schools and we desire members of all YLA communities to share a common vision, we require that all members have a basic knowledge of the principles of Leadership Education as outlined in “A Thomas Jefferson Education” by Oliver Demille by the end of their first semester in YLA.
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Member Requirements include:
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Have been homeschooling for a minimum of one school year
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Have a new Member Interview with a member of the Executive Leadership Team, typically the Parent Rep
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Both parents read “A Thomas Jefferson Education” by Oliver Demille by the end of their first semester at YLA
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Pay yearly membership fees on time
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Pay class fees to mentors on time
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Contribute a minimum of 5 volunteer hours per semester in the community
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Attend a minimum of one parent meeting per semester
FORM AND FUNCTION
YLA Communities are not schools, businesses or official organizations. YLA groups are simply communities of people who work together for shared educational and social opportunities. YLA Communities are led by volunteer leadership teams that seek God’s direction in all things pertaining to their respective YLA communities.
YLA Communities are made up several parts that generally consist of but are not limited to:
1- Scholars
2- Scholar School
2-Parents
3-Mentors
4-Community
4-JYLA (Junior Youth Leaders for America)
6-Youth Council
7-Leadership
SCHOLARS
Youth, ages 12 +, at YLA are also referred to as scholars.
Scholars are students who are old enough and emotionally mature enough to own their own education. They are willing and ready to submit to mentors and do the hard work that is required to gain a great education.
YLA Communities exist mainly to support scholar age homeschool youth and their families navigate homeschool in the high school years. Every other part of a YLA Community is a support to the scholars and the Scholar School.
SCHOLAR SCHOOL
YLA Scholar Schools are not “schools” in the sense that they provide a full education for their students. Classes offered in the community are meant to support and supplement the education students are working on mostly at home.
YLA Scholar Schools provide classes in a free-market system. “Free-market” is understood to mean that classes are based on the economic ideal that allows supply and demand to regulate prices and class selection. Classes, or projects, are provided by teachers, also known as mentors. These mentors are considered independent and voluntary directors of their own curriculum, classes or projects.
PROJECTS & CLASSES
Classes are often referred to as “projects,” We believe project-based learning is the best and most productive type of learning experience we can offer our youth.
Scholar projects incorporate the following five skill-based elements within whatever subject matter that is presented.
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Thinking
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Speaking
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Writing
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Computing
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Reading
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Presenting
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Discussion
Projects may integrate several topics exposing students to a broad body of knowledge or be thematic unit studies that take students to a deeper level of understanding. These typically require a good amount of work outside of class (typically 4-6 hours weekly per class hour), sometimes more depending on the Scholar Phase the class is intended for.
Some classes at YLA Scholar Schools are enrichment type classes that are based around a very specific topic and skill set (ie band, karate, watercolor, ballroom). This does not mean that it cannot also incorporate scholar skills or integrated subjects, but it is less focused on scholar skills and more focused on a specific topic. These classes enrich the students' learning and require minimal work outside of class.
PARENTS
As members of a YLA Community, parents are required to read “A Thomas Jefferson Education” by Oliver Demille to gain a vision and understanding of the foundation of YLA and the purpose of the Scholar School. Parents are also required to volunteer 5 or more hours per semester within the community and attend one parent night per semester. This is critical to the function of YLA and building up the community.
Parents are invited to mentor at the Scholar School. Any parent who has a passion, interest or skill, is invited to submit a class proposal to come and share it with the scholars in their community.
MENTORS
Great mentoring takes place when someone is passionate, inspired, and dedicated to the growth of each of their students. We seek mentors to provide projects or classes based on their own passion, experience, and skills, they do not need to be certified to offer a class at YLA.
Projects/classes may be offered by either: 1) one lead adult mentor who is confident teaching in a classroom setting on their own 2) a lead mentor and an assistant mentor (2 adults; or 1 adult and 1 youth), or 3) a youth mentor and a responsible adult assistant. We encourage having at least 1 lead and 1 assistant in each class, however some classes may not require 2 mentors.
Classes at YLA are owned by the individual Mentors who seek to fulfill the YLA vision and mission. Mentors determine all the specifics of their classes, including materials, curriculum, fees, class size, appropriate age and/or scholar phase, payment options, reimbursement policy etc... Mentors will communicate with the Mentor Rep regarding any needs, concerns, supplies or other support they may need.
TYPES OF MENTORS
There are two types of mentors at YLA: Volunteer and Compensated.
Volunteer Mentors offer a class or project, volunteering their time without compensation (which fulfills their volunteer hours if they are members). These class fees are often lower, as they charge only for supplies and activities for the class.
Compensated mentors are offering their professional services through YLA at their regular or discounted tuition costs. They are not paid for through member fees, but through class fees, by those attending their classes. A member mentor can also offer their professional skills through a class at YLA and charge tuition for their services through their class fees, however, those teaching hours will not count for their member volunteer hours.
COMMUNITY
YLA Communities respectfully welcome families of all Christian faiths and backgrounds. All classes are taught from a Christian perspective and worldview. YLA also provides community events and social opportunities throughout the year to help youth and their families build relationships and supplement their social needs.These include family socials, parent and youth retreats, dances, parent gatherings, leadership activities etc..
LEADERSHIP/ADMINISTRATION
A YLA Community is run and administered by an executive leadership team that is made up of 3 volunteer members who oversee all administrative duties regarding the YLA community.
The executive leadership team of a YLA Community is made up of the Principal Mentor (PM), Parent Representative (PR) and Mentor Representative (MR). As a team they counsel together to make executive decisions regarding all aspects of the YLA Community.