Skip to main content
California Department of Education Logo
California Department of Education
Official Letter
California Department of Education
Official Letter
September 3, 2021

Dear High School Principals, Counselors, and Scholarship Coordinators:

2022 United States Senate Youth Program

I am pleased to announce the 2022 United States Senate Youth Program (USSYP). Sponsored by the William Randolph Hearst Foundation, the California Department of Education (CDE) coordinates this program for outstanding juniors or seniors who are interested in pursuing careers in public service. All public and private high schools in the state are invited to nominate up to two juniors or seniors to participate.

Two students from each state will be selected to attend this unique educational experience, and each student will receive a $10,000 undergraduate college scholarship. The 60th annual Washington Week will take place March 5–12, 2022, with current planning for a national selection process and an in-person program in Washington, D.C., pending public health and safety guidelines for travel and indoor gatherings.

Students must be nominated by their high school principal and must be currently serving in an elected or appointed leadership capacity in a student government, civic, or educational organization for the entire 2021–22 school year. In addition, nominated students must be United States citizens or permanent residents and currently enrolled in a California public or private secondary school. Four finalists, consisting of two delegates and a first alternate and second alternate, will be selected by the CDE to be California’s USSYP representatives.

The application and scholarship information on the 2022 USSYP may be found on the CDE USSYP web page at https://www.cde.ca.gov/eo/in/us/. The deadline to apply is Wednesday, October 6, 2021.

If you have any questions regarding the USSYP, please send an email to ussyp@cde.ca.gov.

Sincerely,

Tony Thurmond
State Superintendent of Public Instruction

TT:df
Last Reviewed: Tuesday, June 25, 2024

Recently Posted in Letters

  • 2027 California Schools to Watch Program (added 13-May-2026)
    Letter to County and District Superintendents, Charter School Administrators, and Middle School Principals regarding an invitation to apply for the 2027 California Schools to Watch program.
  • AAPI Heritage Month Kickoff Webinar (added 13-May-2026)
    Letter to county and district superintendents, charter school administrators, and school principals regarding Asian American and Pacific Islander (AAPI) Heritage Month kickoff webinar: Living History at Angel Island Immigration Station.
  • Invitation to SSPI's Literacy Leadership Summit (added 12-May-2026)
    Letter to county and district superintendents and charter school administrators regarding an invitation to State Superintendent Thurmond's Literacy Leadership Summit.
  • Reminder: Graduates’ Rights to Wear Tribal Regalia (added 23-Apr-2026)
    Joint letter from the California Department of Education and the California Department of Justice regarding a reminder of graduates’ rights to wear tribal regalia.
  • Reminder: Graduates’ Rights to Wear Tribal Regalia (added 22-Apr-2026)
    Joint letter from the CDE and California Department of Justice to County and District Superintendents, Charter School Administrators, and School Principals reminding them of graduates’ rights to wear tribal regalia.

  • Celebration of California State Student Authors (added 03-Apr-2026)
    Letter regarding the Celebration of California State Student Authors.
  • Approved List of Screening Instruments for TK (added 27-Mar-2026)
    Letter to County and District Superintendents and Charter School Administrators regarding the approved list of screening instruments for Transitional Kindergarten Multilingual Learners.
  • Upcoming Observance of Farmworkers Day (added 26-Mar-2026)
    Letter to County and District Superintendents and Charter School Administrators regarding the upcoming observance of Farmworkers Day on March 31, 2026.
  • 2026 Workplace Readiness Week (added 26-Mar-2026)
    Letter to County and District Superintendents and Charter School Administrators regarding Workplace Readiness Week.
  • Supporting Student Mental Health (added 24-Mar-2026)
    Joint letter from the California Department of Education, the California Department of Health Care Services, and the California Health and Human Services Agency to colleagues regarding supporting student mental health.