Dear County and District Superintendents, Charter School Administrators, High School Principals, Counselors, and Scholarship Coordinators:

2027 United States Senate Youth Program

I am pleased to announce the 2027 United States Senate Youth Program (USSYP).

All public and private high schools in the state are invited to nominate up to two outstanding juniors or seniors interested in pursuing careers in public service to participate in this educational program coordinated by the California Department of Education (CDE).

Two student delegates from each state will be selected to attend this unique educational experience. The 65th Annual Washington Week is scheduled to be held in Washington, D.C., on March 6–13, 2027. Student delegates will participate in a comprehensive, interactive leadership program, and each will receive a $12,500 college scholarship.

To apply, students must be nominated by their high school principal and currently serving in an elected or appointed leadership position in a student government, civic, or educational organization for the entire 2026–27 school year. In addition, nominated students must be U.S. citizens or permanent legal residents, be currently enrolled in a California public or independent high school, and live in California for the entire academic year. Four finalists, consisting of two delegates and a first and second alternate, will be selected by the CDE to be California’s USSYP representatives.

Application instructions and materials are available on the CDE USSYP web page at https://www.cde.ca.gov/eo/in/us/. Students who are nominated by their high school principal must complete and submit the required application materials by Wednesday, October 7, 2026, at 3 p.m.

If you have questions regarding the USSYP, please email USSYP@cde.ca.gov.

Sincerely,

Tony Thurmond
State Superintendent of Public Instruction

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