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Applications for World Language Academies

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News & Announcements 

Applications for the summer 2026 Governor's World Language Academies must be started no later than January 16, 2026 and submitted no later than January 31, 2026 (local deadlines may be earlier).

  • Please review the Guide for Students and Families (Word) or the Guide for Schools (Word) as appropriate before beginning the process. 
  • The state application period will close on January 31, 2026 and all tasks must be completed prior to this date.   There will be earlier deadlines for individual tasks that will vary by school division.
  • Applications for any of the five Governor’s World Language Academies may be accessed and submitted online via SMApply.
  • Please refer to the Student Application Planning Form for individual task deadlines.
  • This User Guide for the GWLA Application on SMApply can be used as a reference to help navigate the online application process.

Student Applications and Administrative Guides - 2026

All applications must be started by January 16, 2026 and submitted by January 31, 2026.

Please review these guides before beginning the application process. 

  • Guide for Students and Families (Word) – answers many frequently asked questions about the World Language Academies.
  • Guide for Schools (Word) – The process for submitting applications and student data for nominees to the Governor's World Language Academies includes direct entry of student data into a secure website. This procedure allows more time for students and schools to prepare the applications, increased accuracy in student data, and a faster application review process.
  • Schools may choose to use this Data Entry Cover Sheet (Word) to submit names of nominees to the local school division or central office program coordinator.

Applications

Student Nominations and Eligibility

Students must be nominated by a public high school from a Virginia public school division or a private school accredited by one of the approved accrediting constituent members of the Virginia Council for Private Education. Home-school students may apply through the public school they are eligible to attend tuition free. A state selection process will determine who is accepted to participate.

Each secondary school may nominate a maximum of two students for each of the French, German, Japanese, Latin and Spanish Academies.

All nominees must meet the eligibility requirements below. Eligible students:

  • must be juniors or mature sophomores during the current school year, 2025-2026;
  • must not have graduated before the opening of the academy;
  • must be eligible to attend public school in Virginia tuition-free (i.e., be residents of Virginia);
  • must be nominated by a public high school from a Virginia public school division or by a private school accredited by one of the approved accrediting constituent members of the Virginia Council for Private Education;
  • may apply to only one Governor's summer residential program or world language academy per year;
  • may attend only one Governor's summer residential program or world language academy during their high school career; and
  • must be genuinely interested in attending the World Language Academies and have the stamina, emotional maturity, stability, and self-discipline to live away from home for an extended period.

Students of the French, German, and Spanish Academies must meet the additional criteria below. Eligible students:

  • must have completed at least level three (or an equivalent language development experience) of the language prior to the beginning of the academy;
  • must have developed good proficiency in using this language; and
  • must be willing to use the target language for all social and academic interactions.

Students applying to the Latin Academy must have completed at least level two of the language prior to the beginning of the academy.

Students applying to the Japanese Academy must have completed at least level two of ANY language prior to the beginning of the academy, but are not required to have previously studied Japanese. Students currently studying Japanese are also encouraged to apply.

Online Testing and Proctor Information

Nominees to French, German, Spanish, and Latin Academies must complete an online language assessment.  Order test codes only for students who have completed the online application and whom the school will nominate.  Test code request forms may only be submitted by the nominating school.  The school should submit one test code request for all nominees on the same form. Nominees to the Japanese Academy who have experience in the language should also take the Japanese assessment.  Language testing must be completed and submitted no later than January 31, 2026. 

Test Preparation

*Applicants to the Japanese Academy who have any experience in learning Japanese should take the Japanese assessment to determine class placement if accepted.  Test results for Japanese will only be used to determine class composition and will not be counted in the application scoring.  Applicants to the Japanese Academy with no prior experience in Japanese should not take the PLACE test and will automatically go into the beginner course if accepted.

Staff Applications

Language administrators, educators, teachers, and college students interested in a position at the 2026 Academies are encouraged to apply. Most of the faculty members at the Governor's World Language Academies are Virginia public secondary school teachers, private school teachers, or college professors. In addition, up to six young people per academy assist faculty and monitor dormitory behavior. These resident advisors are native speakers, college majors, or former Academy students.

Language teachers from across the state are also encouraged to apply to visit the academy of their language as a teacher observer. Seeing the staff and students in action and taking an active role in some activities has proven highly successful as a leadership and professional development experience.

To apply for staff positions or teacher observer opportunities, visit the host site webpage or contact the host site coordinator of the selected Academy.

French, German, or Spanish Academies

Japanese and Latin Academies

  • Dates:June 28 - July 12, 2026
  • Location: Virginia Commonwealth University

Available Positions include:

  • Program Director - review of applications will begin after November 30, 2025
  • Teacher and Lead Teacher - review of applications will begin after January 30, 2026
  • Resident Assistants - review of applications will begin after January 30, 2026

Professional Learning opportunities include:

  • Teacher Observer - Request must be submitted to the Host Site Coordinator by May 15, 2026

Faculty and Staff

Most faculty members are Virginia public secondary school teachers, approximately three to five per academy. Private school teachers or college professors may also be a part of the faculty. Also, approximately three to six young people per academy who are native speakers, college majors, or former students assist faculty and monitor dormitory behavior.

Teacher Observers

Language teachers from across the state are allowed to visit the academy of their language to observe and learn from the experience. This teacher observer program has proven highly successful as a leadership and staff development experience.

Verification Reports

Public School Division Superintendents or Private School Headmasters must submit the online Verification Report with the names of students nominated by their school divisions or private schools by February 16, 2026.

Public school divisions and private schools will create the Verification Report online through a secure website. Schools will enter student data directly to this website.  The Verification Report will generate automatically and an email notification will be sent to the superintendent or headmaster when the local designee completes data entry.  Please refer to the Guide for Schools (Word) for details.