High school students with an interest in state government and working to influence laws affecting young people have a March 28 deadline to apply to serve on the Louisiana Legislative Youth Advisory Council.
LYAC members are the voices of young people around the state. The Council facilitates communication between students and the Legislature, and gives members an opportunity to be involved in the workings of state government.
In meetings, LYAC members study and address a variety of issues, such as education, mental health, civic engagement, the environment, school safety, and other issues they find important to students.
Members of the Commission on Civic Education select the Council from a pool of applicants showing a strong interest in civic involvement. The 31-member LYAC includes three students representing each of the six congressional districts and 13 who serve at large.
Applicants must be between the ages of 14 and 19 and enrolled in a public or private high school, charter school, home school, or GED skills program during the 2025-2026 school year.
The new Council will start the yearlong session in July with a two-day seminar at the State Capitol and then meet every other month in person on a Saturday in Baton Rouge starting in September. The Council meets on Zoom in the months in between.
Students apply at civiced.louisiana.gov and then click on LYAC at the top of the page. All applicants must submit by March 28 two letters of recommendation, in addition to the six short-answer questions on the application form.
For additional information, contact Megan Bella at [email protected] or 225-342-2361.