Senate and House Page Programs

Please read the latest news about about the rewarding Page Programs at the Virginia General Assembly along with the detailed descriptions of each below.

Learn about the House of Delegates Page Program further down this page. Senate Page Program information is immediately below.

Senate of Virginia Page Program Application

The application for admission to the Senate Page Program class of 2024 is now open. Click here to apply. The deadline for applications to be completed and submitted is Friday, October 20, 2023, at 5:00 pm.

If you have any questions, please e-mail: pageinfo@senate.virginia.gov

Senate Page Program Overview

Quick Facts and Frequently Asked Questions:

The following tip sheets and guides will assist prospective applicants with preparing for the application process, planning for an extended school absence, and understanding various components and expectations of Senate Page service.

Application Tips
Overview and Considerations
School Tips
Understanding the Professional Development Agenda

IMPORTANT INFORMATION pertaining to vaccinations and boosters.

Senate Page Program Viewbook

Introduction:

The Senate Page Program is a dynamic, engaging and educational experience that honors and preserves the tradition of service to the legislature. Senate Pages have served the upper chamber of the legislature since at least 1850.

The experience today is designed to provide a foundation of knowledge for the next generation of administrators, managers, elected-officials and civic leaders. Structured similar to a college preparatory program, organized learning activities compliment the day-to-day duties of all Senate Pages. Members of each class are expected to fully participate in all program components with a positive, respectful, and can-do attitude. Failure to do so will result in dismissal.

The mission of the Senate Page Program is to facilitate a structured environment in which young Virginians accept responsibility and accountability, develop professional characteristics through strict standards of conduct and engage in the legislative process through work, observation and discussion.

 

Program Components:

The Senate Page Program is structured around three primary components:

The Responsible Young Professional: Each Senate Page will be tasked with various job assignments such as staffing committee meetings (in a backup clerk capacity), answering telephone calls, providing basic concierge services and speaking to the public or visiting delegations about their experience and role in the legislative process. Assignments are delegated to the Senate Page class using a team approach with an emphasis on exceptional standards of service.

The Evolving Leader: The class will engage in team building scenarios designed to enhance leadership and decision-making skills. Our professional development track centers on topics relevant to young adults today. In addition to meeting elected officials, we immerse the class in sessions pertaining to etiquette, money management, cyber security, current events, and life after the Senate Page Program. Weekly reading and journaling is also required.

The Civic-Minded Young Adult: Senate Page service extends beyond the confines of Capitol Square. Each class is required to complete a community service project as a team. The Senate Page Program partners with a local non-profit group that serves approximately three-dozen counties across the Commonwealth.

The education acquired through these components serves as preparation for the program capstone. The capstone is a mock legislative session, a one-hour debate in which the class will demonstrate what they learned about the legislative process. Senate Pages switch roles with legislators to openly debates topics on which they voted in mock committee. Legislators serve the mock floor session in a Senate Page-like capacity.

 

Program Schedule and Absenteeism from School:
Pursuant to the Constitution of Virginia, the legislature convenes on the second Wednesday in January for 46 calendar days in odd-numbered years and 60 calendar days in even-numbered years. Those who receive admission to the Senate Page Program report each Sunday evening and depart each Friday at Noon during the legislative session. Residency in a hotel is required. Admission to the program requires a full commitment on the part of the student and his/her parents for the duration of a legislative session.

Admission to the Senate Page Program is an excused absence from school. Absenteeism for Senate Pages is addressed in sections 8VAC20-110-40 and 8VAC20-110-50 of the Virginia Administrative Code. If you are selected to the program, your school will need to make the appropriate notation in their records system.

Requirements for Consideration:
Applicants should discuss the program requirements and demands as a family prior to starting the application. In addition, the applicant must also discuss the program with the appropriate school personnel such as principals, school counselors and teachers.

Applicants seeking admission must be 13 or 14 years of age on the first day of session (second Wednesday in January) and a resident of the Commonwealth of Virginia.

All components of the online application must be completed by the applicant, with the assistance of parents/legal guardians.

 

Application Review, Selection and Notification:
Members of the Senate, on a rotating basis, along with Senate leaders, appoint 26 Senate Pages each session. Additional Senate Pages are appointed by the Clerk of the Senate. This process is very different than the House Page Program, so decisions are typically released in mid-December. All applicants will receive notification from the Senate Clerk’s Office.

 

Graduates from the Senate Page Program are well-positioned for consideration into high school and college leadership programs; in particular, those facilitated by the Sorenson Institute of Political Leadership at University of Virginia, programs administered through the American Legion, and the U.S. Senate Page Program.

 

 

Virginia House of Delegates Page Program

Overview:

Welcome to the Virginia House of Delegates Page Program! We invite you to explore and learn more about this popular program for youth focusing on civics education, the lawmaking process, and leadership development. As a non-partisan staff member of the House Clerk’s Office, Pages are an integral part of an institution with a long-standing tradition of providing outstanding support and customer service to state legislators and those they represent. Since 1847, this educational program has been helping youth become more engaged citizens and effective leaders.

Each year, the Speaker of the House of Delegates appoints 13- and 14-year-olds from across the Commonwealth to work in the House Clerk’s Office as House Pages during the Regular Session of the Virginia General Assembly. They assist the Delegates and staff in the House Clerk’s Office in performing a wide variety of daily duties required for the successful operation of the House.

Core Components:

The House Page curriculum and experiences are developed around three core components:

• 1. Civics Education and Curriculum:
• • - The comprehensive study of the legislative process
  • - Understanding how the law-making process works
  • - Meeting with officials from all branches of state government
  • - Most importantly, participating in the Page Debate in the House Chamber

• 2. Leadership Development (Personal and Professional):
• • - Goal setting for success
  • - Learning time-management, money-management along with public speaking and overall communication skills
  • - Civility and diversity training
  • - Professional etiquette
  • - Community service project

• 3. Daily work experiences:
• • - Overall daily job experience
  • • - Shadowing pilot program
  • - Overall capitol history
  • • - Your capitol experience

Program Schedule:

On a typical workday (8:30 AM - 5:00 PM) each week, Page work assignments include delivering documents to officials throughout the Capitol, General Assembly Building and around Capitol Square; performing office errands on behalf of House Members and the Clerk’s Office; working in various staff sections within the Clerk’s Office; and completing an array of needed tasks to ensure the smooth running of daily House committee meetings and Floor sessions. Pages are trained for these duties and responsibilities during the first two days of their employment before Session starts.

Following the workday, Pages have two hours of “free time” (5:00 PM - 7:00 PM) reserved for eating dinner at nearby restaurants. A mandatory evening Study Hall is held at the hotel Monday through Thursday from 7:00 PM until 9:00 PM. During this time, certified teachers supervise the Pages and assist them, as needed, but these educators do not provide classroom instruction and do not administer or proctor testing. Prior to the starting as a House Page and during its duration (7 weeks in odd-numbered years; 9 weeks in even-numbered years), Pages and their parents are responsible for arranging with their schools and teachers the preferred method of submitting completed school assignments and exams during this extended / excused absence. While at their daily work assignments, Pages remain under the supervision of the Page Program Coordinators and monitored by the Page Program Chaperones during evening hotel stays.

Application Requirements:

For those interested in this truly one-of-a-kind extended educational and residential experience, applicants must be: 13 or 14 years old by January 10, 2024; in good academic standing; and in cooperative agreement with their school administrators and teachers for program participation. Selected participants will be working in an approximately 40-hour per week paid position as a House Page while also maintaining his/her individual schooling assignments and examinations.

Serving as a House Page is a unique and immersive learning opportunity that requires lots of careful planning, hard work, self-initiative, personal responsibility, and a positive attitude. Success in this program depends upon and requires active collaboration and close cooperation by Pages with a strong support network that includes their peers in the program, families, teachers, the House Page Program supervisory staff, and House Clerk’s Office professionals.

The 2024 House Page Program Overview & FAQs contains additional program information for your planning purposes and application submission.

If you have further questions on the application process or overall program, please email HousePageSupervisor@house.virginia.gov or contact the House Clerk's Office at (804) 698-1619.

House of Delegates Page Program Application

Thank you for your interest in the House of Delegates Page Program. The online application for the 2024 Legislative Session is now available.

Please click here to verify your date of birth, create an account and access the online application portal.

The deadline to complete and submit online applications is Monday, October 16, 2023, at 5 p.m. (EDT). Applications will not be considered after the submission deadline.

If you have further questions on the application process or overall program, please email HousePageSupervisor@house.virginia.gov or contact the House Clerk's Office at (804) 698-1619.

Page applicants must be 13 or 14 years old on January 10, 2024, to be eligible for participation in the program.