Junior State of America (JSA) 2026: Summer School, Cost and Is It Worth It?
Updated: 15th October, 2026
TL;DR
Junior State of America (JSA) was a student-run civics and debate nonprofit with school chapters, statewide conventions, and a paid three-week summer school. Unlike most programs, it no longer exists. JSA closed on August 31, 2024, so there is no 2026 summer school and no cost to pay. If you want civics and leadership, free programs like American Legion Boys State and Girls State are still running. If you want to study politics or policy, look at the Lumiere Research Scholar Program. It pairs you 1:1 with a PhD mentor for an independent research project.
What was Junior State of America?
JSA was a student-run, nonpartisan nonprofit that taught high schoolers debate, leadership, and how democracy works. It started in 1934, when Ernest Rogers organized a "Conference of Youth on American Ideals" in Los Gatos, California, according to JSA's About page.
The group had two sides. School-year chapters met at high schools, and the About page lists chapters in 35 states and eight territories. A separate summer school ran civics programs on university campuses. Students led the organization, which set JSA apart from a normal school club.
Quick facts | Detail |
Full name | Junior State of America (JSA) |
Founded | 1934 |
What it offered | Student-run school chapters, statewide conventions, and a paid summer school |
Summer school (past) | Three-week civics programs. Past campuses included Stanford, Georgetown, and Princeton. In 2022, programs ran in Los Angeles, Washington, D.C., and Saipan. |
Status in 2026 | Closed and dissolved on August 31, 2024 |
Current cost | None, because the program ended |
Successor | Civic Leaders of America (CLA), a separate student-led nonprofit |
Is Junior State of America still running in 2026?
No. JSA's board voted to dissolve the organization on July 29, 2024, and operations ended on August 31, 2024. You can read the details in JSA's own closure announcement.
The board pointed to several causes. Student participation had fallen since 2015. Costs for the school-year program rose sharply. Two of its 10 state divisions had collapsed, and summer school attendance had dropped since 2008. No chapter, convention, or summer school is accepting students for 2026.
Students on JSA's Council of Governors started a new nonprofit, Civic Leaders of America. The board supports it, but the names "Junior State of America" and "JSA" can't be used for student activities anymore. CLA is a different group, so check how active it is near you before you count on it.
How did JSA chapters and conventions work?
Chapters were clubs at individual high schools, and conventions brought chapters together at the state level. The chapter is where most of the week-to-week work happened.
JSA was organized into state divisions, and students held the leadership roles. The student-led successor shows what a convention looks like in practice. Texas CLA held its first Fall State Convention on November 9–10, 2024, at the Texas Capitol in Austin, per a student newspaper report. More than 80 people from 16 chapters attended. The schedule included debates, activism sessions, a Quiz Bowl, and a keynote talk on political polarization.
What did the JSA summer school cost, and where was it held?
JSA no longer publishes a cost, because the summer school closed with the organization in 2024. Any price you see on an old page or a third-party site is out of date.
JSA's closure announcement describes the summer programs as three-week civics programs. Its About page lists past campuses that include Mills College, Stanford, Georgetown, Yale, the University of Texas at Austin, Northwestern, and Princeton. The first summer school ran in 1941. If a paid summer leadership program is what you want now, our review of the National Student Leadership Conference breaks down cost and value for one option.
What skills did students build in JSA?
JSA built public speaking, debate, and the basics of running an organization. Students argued issues, listened to the other side, and responded on the spot.
Members led the group, so they learned by doing the work. Planning an event, recruiting for a chapter, or running for office teaches organizing skills that a one-time program rarely does. Those habits carry over to student government, campaigns, and research. JSA's mission statement describes its goal as preparing students to take part in democracy through civic programs.
Did JSA look good on college applications?
It could, but the club name was never the point. Admissions officers look at what you did inside an activity, not the logo on it.
A student who led a chapter or won an election had a clear story to tell. A student who only listed membership did not. Depth and a clear role beat a long list of titles. Our guide to competitive summer programs admissions officers love shows what that depth can look like.
JSA vs. Boys State and Girls State: what's the difference?
JSA was a year-round membership group with a paid summer school. Boys State and Girls State are state-run summer government programs that are usually free to students. The format and the price were the biggest differences.
The American Legion runs Boys State, and the American Legion Auxiliary sponsors a separate but similar program, Girls State. The Legion's Boys State page says a sponsoring Legion post, local business, or community group usually pays a student's expenses. It also says Legion posts choose the participants. Its recommended guidelines point to students who have finished their junior year, though each state department can set its own rules.
Feature | JSA (closed 2024) | Boys State / Girls State |
Who runs it | JSA Foundation (student-led) | American Legion and American Legion Auxiliary |
Format | Year-round school chapters plus a paid summer school | Summer government simulation run by each state |
Cost | Paid summer tuition (now ended) | Usually free, paid by sponsors |
Who attends | High school members | Students who have finished junior year, chosen by Legion posts |
Status in 2026 | Closed | Still running |
Our breakdown of American Legion Boys State and Boys Nation explains how the program works if that path fits you.
Is JSA worth it in 2026, and what should you do instead?
JSA isn't an option in 2026, so the real question is where to spend your time now. For civics and leadership, Boys State or Girls State is the strongest free pick if you qualify. The student-led Civic Leaders of America is worth checking if it's active near you.
Here is how JSA stacked up when it was running.
Pros -
Students ran the organization, so members held real leadership roles.
School chapters reached 35 states and eight territories.
The summer school met on campuses like Stanford, Georgetown, and Princeton.
Cons -
It closed on August 31, 2024, so none of it is open to you.
Student participation had fallen since 2015, and two of its 10 state divisions collapsed.
The summer school was paid, and its attendance had dropped since 2008 as free and low-cost options grew.
If you liked the policy side of JSA, build something of your own. An independent research paper on a political or policy question shows depth that a membership card can't. You pick the question, do the work, and end with something you can show.
Frequently asked questions: Junior State of America
Who could join JSA?
No one can join today, because JSA closed on August 31, 2024. When it ran, you joined through a chapter at your high school. The summer school took high schoolers who applied and paid tuition. If you're a rising senior, your nearest open option is Boys State or Girls State.
Is there financial aid for the JSA summer school?
No, because the summer school no longer exists. JSA's official pages don't list aid details for any past session. If cost worries you, Boys State and Girls State are usually free to students because sponsors cover the expenses. The student-led Civic Leaders of America is another low-barrier route, but check its current plans first.
How do you start a JSA chapter?
You can't start a JSA chapter anymore, because the organization dissolved in 2024. The names "Junior State of America" and "JSA" can't be used for student activities. If you want a similar club at your school, look into Civic Leaders of America or ask a teacher to sponsor a debate or civics club. Check CLA's own channels for its current process before you plan anything.
Was JSA prestigious?
JSA was well known and 90 years old, but it was a broad membership group, not a selective honor. What carried weight was a real leadership role inside it, like running a chapter or winning an election. Colleges value that depth over the name of any single club. Our guide to selective summer programs covers options that do screen applicants.
What does JSA stand for?
JSA stands for Junior State of America. It started in 1934 as the Junior Statesmen, according to the group's About page. Students used the short name "JSA" for chapters, conventions, and the summer school. The organization closed in 2024.
What was the JSA debate?
JSA debate meant chapter and convention debates on current issues, run by students. You argued a position, listened to the other side, and responded on the spot. Today, the student-led Civic Leaders of America has held conventions with debates, as the Texas Fall State Convention in November 2024 showed. You can also join your school's debate team to build the same skills.
Want to study politics or policy, but don't want to depend on a program that closed or one that only takes rising seniors? Look at the Lumiere Research Scholar Program. It pairs you 1:1 with a PhD mentor for an independent research project on a topic you choose, done entirely online. Apply here. If cost is the main barrier, also look at the Lumiere Research Inclusion Foundation, a non-profit research program for talented, low-income students.
Stephen Turban is the co-founder of Lumiere Education and a graduate of Harvard College, where he earned an A.B. in Statistics before beginning a PhD at Harvard Business School. A former McKinsey & Company consultant and former researcher, his research has been covered by the Harvard Business Review, The Economist, BBC News, Freakonomics Radio, and the Washington Post. In his articles for Forbes, he writes on what students and professionals can learn from high school research, high school passion projects, critical thinking, and mentorship. At Lumiere, he leads a selective research program where students work one-on-one with a research mentor to develop an independent research paper. Connect with him on LinkedIn.