This approach will not increase the total funds collected at the national level. However, it may result in some chapters having a higher or lower fee. It is important to note that dues have not increased since the 2010-11 membership year. Holding membership revenue to a minimum has been a priority to ensure cost does not become a barrier to membership.
Given that the program is fee-based instead of per-student-based, the three and four-year membership types will no longer be needed. Graduates who wish to retain FFA membership post-graduation can do so up to the age limit outlined in Article V, Section B of the National FFA Constitution. Ag teachers should renew graduated students on their roster on an as-necessary basis.
By default, all students enrolled in an SBAE course will be FFA members and have full access to the FFA opportunities. Guidance is being written to support state association management of opt-out requests of FFA membership as an integral part of agricultural education. Students that do opt-out via their state approved process are then opted-out of local, district/region, state, and national FFA membership. There is no avenue to opt-out of national FFA membership only.
Article V of the National FFA Constitution states that to be eligible for membership, “a student must be enrolled in a state approved school-based agriculture education program not below the 5th grade level”. This is the basis for determining your school-based agricultural education count.
