Missouri FCCLA members in their junior and senior years of high school who have an interest in government, public policy, and laws and their relation to families, careers, and communities are encouraged to apply for a day of shadowing in the Missouri General Assembly. Up to fifty FCCLA members may be chosen for this program. The Legislative Shadowing program is funded with Missouri FCCLA membership dues and contributions from the Missouri Educators of Family and Consumer Sciences (MoEFCS).
To be eligible, the FCCLA member must be a junior or senior in high school and must have paid all dues by the designated affiliation deadline. Each applicant must submit an application, and each chapter is allowed two applications. State Executive Council chapters are allowed two applications in addition to their SEC application.
Selection Process and Timeline
Interested and eligible members will submit a Legislative Shadowing Application online. After the application deadline, applications will be reviewed by the Legislative Shadowing program coordinator/staff. Once reviewed, letters will inform applicants of their application status and an email will be sent to chapter advisers. It is the goal of the program for all fourteen regions in Missouri to be represented. If selected, members will receive additional information and legislator assignments according to the estimated timeline provided.
2025 Legislative Shadowing Timeline
- November 1, 2024 – Online application available
- December 1, 2024 – Online applications due
- By December 20, 2024 – E-mails sent for acceptance to applicant and adviser
- December 31, 2024 – Participant Confirmation for accepted individuals due
- By January 17, 2025 – Legislator assignments/pre-program tasks released by e-mail and Missouri FCCLA website
This date could be impacted by legislator contacts, which may be delayed due to the 2024 election. - February 7, 2025 – Researching your Legislator assignment due on or before this date
- February 12-13, 2025 – Legislative Shadowing–both days are required
- March 31, 2025 – Follow-up tasks final deadline to be uploaded
Location, Budget and Housing
Participants will be required to arrive in Jefferson City on the afternoon of February 12, 2025 to attend the project orientation and reception at Governor Office Building, Room 450. Legislative Shadowing will take place at the Missouri Capitol building and timing will be arranged by the participant and legislator staff.
All costs – travel, lodging, meals, incidentals, etc. – are the responsibility of participants and advisers.
A block of hotel rooms has been reserved at Courtyard by Marriott (610 Bolivar St. – Jefferson City) with a group rate of $145++ per room. Daily parking fees will apply. Chapters are responsible for making their own lodging arrangements prior to the block deadline of January 12, 2025. After the deadline, room rates could increase and rooms may not be available. The legislature is in session and hotel rooms are reserved early and are usually sold out.
Expectations
Students are expected to adhere to a code of conduct as well as dress code while in attendance. All participants are required to wear the official FCCLA blazer.
All participants are required to attend the Legislative Shadowing Project Orientation and Opening Reception on February 12, 2025 at 4 p.m. with a chaperone (chapter adviser, other school faculty, parent, or other chaperone as determined by the local school district). Participants must also attend all scheduled functions on February 13, 2025 (will not go past 3:30 p.m.).
After the shadowing experience in Jefferson City, participants are required to complete follow-up activities to educate their chapter, school, and/or community about their experience and the Legislative Shadowing Project.
Chapters that do not adhere to the schedule of events and complete pre-program and follow-up tasks by the deadlines provided are subject to chapter disqualification from the program the following year.
Program Application
The Legislative Shadowing application must be submitted online by December 1, 2024. A signed Code of Conduct will be required to submit the program application. Additionally, all chapter advisers are required to submit a Chapter Assurance Agreement annually. This agreement can be located and submitted on the Missouri FCCLA website > Join > Affiliation, and is required before participation is allowed in any Missouri FCCLA event, including Legislative Shadowing.
