How will the model support new chapters?
To support new chapter/program development, all new chapters chartered or re-chartered after the initial nationwide implementation of 100% membership would start and remain at the Tier A fee for three years before adjusting to the appropriate SBAE enrollment rate.
How will local chapters be held accountable to ensure access?
National FFA will work with state associations in the development of the online roster system to include a local school administrator e-signature to verify program enrollment prior to membership roster submission. The local ag teacher will input an appropriate name, email address, and title. Suggested titles/roles include school superintendent, building principal or vice principal, CTE director, school registrar, or scheduling counselor. Certifying individuals will be subject to state staff review and ag teachers may be requested to identify a different name/title/role.
Do I still have the ability to suspend FFA members who do not follow our Code of Ethics?
The FFA Code of Ethics is not changing and applying it is still in effect. It should be assumed that all students enter SBAE with a clean slate and by default are FFA members in your chapter. Should a student do something that is a violation of the FFA Code of Ethics or commit a violation of your school’s activity policy, the student could potentially be a candidate for suspension from FFA activities. Ag teachers can contact their state staff to have a student suspended from FFA mid-year. Ag teachers should also confirm suspension with school administration to ensure that local policy has been followed and due process is honored in the loss of that student’s rights. In general, students in SBAE should be automatically listed on the FFA roster and only removed after committing an infraction that has been verified by the ag teacher and school administration. The only situation where a student would pre-emptively not be listed on the FFA roster is when the student enters a SBAE class while they have been barred [...]
Can states and local chapters continue to charge individual student dues?
States and local chapters will have flexibility in implementing the chapter fee-based system. However, in order to fully remove the barrier of dues to FFA membership for all agricultural education students, states and local chapters will not be able to charge an individual student a per-student fee for membership.
What affect does chapter fees have on the FFA Constitution?
Article V, Section B, number 3 of the National FFA Constitution does state, “To become a student member and retain membership, a student must: Pay all current state and national dues or program affiliation fee by the date determined by the chapter.” An amendment will be proposed to the national delegates to modify the wording of this section to make clear that fees must be paid by the chapter or state, not each student individually.
