Legislative Shadowing

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. 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.

2024 Legislative Shadowing Timeline

TBA – Applications due
TBA – Confirmation letters sent
TBA – Legislator assignments made
TBA – Pre-program tasks due
February 27-28 – Legislative Shadowing
TBA – Follow-up tasks due

Location, Budget and Housing

Participants will be required to arrive in Jefferson City on the afternoon of February 23, 2024 to attend the project orientation and reception at (TBA). 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 (TBA) with a nightly per room cost of (TBA). Chapters are responsible for making their own lodging arrangements prior to the block deadline. 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 while in attendance. All participants are required to wear the official FCCLA blazer. Missouri FCCLA has a stock of blazers that may be borrowed for Legislative Shadowing and returned at the end of the day, as needed.

All participants are required to attend the Legislative Shadowing Project Orientation and Reception on February 23, 2024 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 24, 2024.

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 disqualification from the program the following year.