Removing Barriers

Nearly all of the nationally recognized CTSOs have an affiliation option. See each organization below for more information. FCCLA, TSA, SkillsUSA

In many states, yes, Perkins can be used for affiliation when the investment is tied to meeting a gap in engagement identified in the Local Comprehensive Needs Assessment. If a program/chapter can identify a special population, as identified in the Perkins Act, that would benefit from removing the barrier of individual dues or define how the program affiliation fee, as an instructional fee, is instrumental in increasing the program's impact on delivering a skilled workforce, the fee would be allowable under the Carl D. Perkins Act.

Research suggests that full affiliation positively increases local engagement of students enrolled in a school-based agriculture education program in FFA activities and experiences. Specific studies have been completed in Kentucky and Minnesota. For more information, check out the full studies.

Yes. During the first three years of the transition to full affiliation, National FFA will make available Affiliation Transition Grants for chapters that can demonstrate a hardship in covering the program affiliation fee. In addition, National FFA will launch and seek funding for the “Gift of Gold” which would be a fund for individual and corporate partners to donate funds for the support of program affiliation fees.

The amendment motion states that, if approved by the delegates at the 98th National FFA Convention & Expo, the change will occur with the 2027-28 membership year.

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.

While there are a growing number of middle school-only FFA chapters that would qualify for the $250 national flat rate, there are a significant number of middle school and high school combined programs across the organization. After first checking with your state association for guidance and existing state policy on this topic, combined programs may have the option of remaining combined or separating into two chapters to benefit from the lower middle school-only rate.Under the direction of the state association, combined (middle and high school) programs can include participating middle school members on the roster but are not required to include all enrolled students except for when they are a middle school-only flat fee chapter. Middle school members included on the chapter roster will be included in the overall enrollment count for the program.

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.

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 [...]

Yes, ag teachers can continue to assess fees, conduct fundraisers, collect payments from students, etc. in the name of funding chapter operations so long as membership in FFA is not blocked for any student that cannot or chooses not to pay this type of fee. Ag teachers can place parameters and requirements around fee payment and a student’s ability to travel on FFA trips, show at a fair, participate above the local level, etc. so long as basic membership in FFA is not jeopardized.