A great fit if they…
are curious about current events and want to discuss them with peers.
Society, Culture & Identity · News & Media
Current Events
for Ages 12 to 18
One steady place each week for teens to talk through the big news with other teens who notice it too, and leave with a clearer head.
- Ages
- 12 to 18
- Class size
- 6–8 max
- Format
- Live online · 21 weeks
- Mentor
- Jake
Show me available times
From $39.71 /week
Course details
Course Overview
Current Events at Young Scholars Academy is a live, small-group weekly class for teens ages 12 to 18 who notice what's happening in the world and want to talk it through with peers. Each week the group looks at the biggest stories, sorts out what actually happened, and discusses and processes them together. Students learn to separate facts from opinions, question media narratives and share their own views with reasons.
Why Jake built this class
Teens see the news all day, in headlines, feeds and group chats, often with no one to talk it over with. Parents and students asked Jake for help making sense of it, so he built a weekly class to do exactly that.
What a class feels like
Each class starts from the week's news. The group sorts out what actually happened, looks at what people are saying about it and how, and talks about what it means for them. Students bring their own questions and opinions and hear how others see the same story.
How Jake runs the discussion
Jake is a humanities teacher who also teaches Philosophy & Big Ideas, and he brings the same discussion style here. Students practice saying what they think and why, and listening to classmates who see it differently. The class makes time to process hard stories together, so no one is left alone with heavy news.
Out loud or in the chat
Students can take part out loud or in the chat, and both are welcome. Classes are small and camera-optional, with movement or quiet breaks when a student needs one.
Ages 12 to 18 · Prerequisites · Who it's for
Is this the right class for my kid?
They should already be able to…
take an interest in other people's perspectives and make room for ideas that differ from their own.
Start here, or take something first?
Start here. Another YSA discussion class can help, but it isn't required, and they don't need to follow the news closely first.
Can they keep taking it?
Yes, with no set limit. The news changes every week, and returning students take on more of the discussion.
New students
Everyone starts by looking at what current events mean to them personally, so there's nothing to catch up on.
Returning students
New stories, a new group and the skills from last term brought to whatever is happening now.
Learning outcomes
What will my kid learn this semester?
Explain the story
Explain a major news story in their own words: what happened, who it affects and why it matters.
Facts vs. opinions
Separate the facts of a story from the opinions around it.
Share and respond
Share a view on a news event, give reasons for it, and respond to someone who sees it differently.
Process together
Talk through a hard story with the group instead of carrying it alone.
What's covered
Unit 1
What Are Current Events to Me?
Students reflect on how close they are to the news and on their own biases.
Unit 2
Complexities in Media Narratives
Students analyze media bias, evaluate what's presented and look at how past media told stories about notable figures and events.
Unit 3
These Are Current Events to Me!
Each student picks a current event and leads the group discussion on it.
Growth · Progress reports
You'll see the growth every week
What you'll notice at home
They talk with you about current events, and they start pointing out when a story is slanted.
What changes on the inside
They feel more confident sorting through a complicated media world, and a hard story feels less heavy once they've talked it through.
A write-up every week
A short report from Jake about your child's actual work: what they made, where they shined, what's next.
Materials Needed
- No materials needed.
You'll get this list by email when you enroll, then 1 week, 3 days and 1 day before class starts.
Getting started
What happens after you enroll
1. Your welcome email
Zoom link, Google Classroom link and an add-to-calendar button in one place. Forward it to your child: Young Scholars Academy can't email students directly.
2. Google Classroom
Syllabus, the weekly Zoom link and a way to message Jake.
3. Every week
A short progress report from Jake about your child's actual work.
Credit · Transcript · Enrichment
For Credit Option
Young Scholars Academy is a WASC-accredited Supplementary Education Center and a UC-registered online publisher, so this course can count toward official credit. Same course, same mentor, same experience in class.
For Enrichment
$39.71 /week up front
Students join the weekly discussion and lead a topic, with a weekly write-up from Jake.
For Credit
$41.80 /week up front
Students do the same work, graded, and earn credit on a Young Scholars Academy transcript.
If you homeschool, this works seamlessly. If your student attends another school full time, we create a report card and transcript that we share with you, and you share with the school. It is up to your primary school to accept it and add it to your student's official transcript.
Spring 2027 · Schedule · Tuition
At a glance
Key facts
- Provider
- Young Scholars Academy (WASC-accredited virtual school for gifted or 2e students, ages 5-18)
- Course
- Current Events
- Mentor
- Jake
- Ages
- 12-18
- Format
- Live online small-group class on Zoom, 6 to 8 students max per class (average class: 5 students)
- Class length
- 50 minutes, once a week
- Term
- Spring 2027, January 4 to May 28, 2027 (21 weeks)
- Category
- Society, Culture & Identity
- Credit option
- Yes: Enrichment or Credit with Transcript
- Schedule note
- No class on March 8 or March 15, 2027 while Jake is away. Tuition covers the 19 classes that meet.
Spring 2027 sections
| Section | Ages | Day | Time (PT / ET) | Weeks | First class | Mentor |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Current Events, Ages 12-18 | 12-18 | Monday | 1:00-1:50 PM PT / 4:00-4:50 PM ET | 19 | January 4, 2027 | Jake |
All times Pacific, with Eastern alongside.
Tuition (Spring 2027)
- Current Events (19 classes): Enrichment Flex Payment Plan $41.80/week ($794.20 total); Enrichment Pay Up Front (save 5%) $39.71/week ($754.49 total); Credit with Transcript Flex Payment Plan $44.00/week ($836.00 total); Credit with Transcript Pay Up Front (save 5%) $41.80/week ($794.20 total).
- New Year All-Access Pass (covers 21-week spring classes; pay in full): Bronze $2,797 (4 live courses + Friendship Social Club), Silver $3,597 (5 live courses + 1 free bonus course), Gold $5,797 (8 live courses + 2 free bonus courses). Class switches allowed during the first month (January 4 to February 3, 2027).
- Guarantee: Try It From The Inside. 100% Satisfaction Guarantee. Not in love? Switch courses (equal or lesser value) or take a credit. Payment plans can also stop future payments after 30 days. Attendance required.
How to enroll
- Course page and enrollment: https://youngscholarsacademy.org/courses/current-events
- Free Spring Open House: November 11, 2026, 5 PM PT. RSVP: https://youngscholarsacademy.org/spring-open-house
- Questions: support@youngscholarsacademy.org
Meet Your Mentor
Jake
Mentor
MFA Humanities, Digital Media Expert
- 10+ years experience
- Neurodiversity podcast co-host
- Digital Media
- Philosophy
Current Events FAQ
Questions parents ask about Current Events
Why did Young Scholars Academy add this class?
Parents and students asked Jake for help making sense of the nonstop news around them. He built a weekly class to talk through and process the big stories together.
What happens in a typical class?
The group looks at the biggest things that happened that week, sorts out what actually went on, and discusses and processes the stories together.
Does my teen need to follow the news already?
No. The class is built for teens who want help making sense of the news, so there's nothing to catch up on first.
What if a story is upsetting?
The class makes time to process hard stories as a group, so students aren't left alone with heavy news.
Can my teen keep going next term?
Yes. The news is different every week, so returning students always have new stories to work through.
Can my teen earn high school credit?
Yes. Young Scholars Academy offers a Credit with Transcript option for this course.
Try It From The Inside Satisfaction Guarantee
The Young Scholars Academy Promise
If you’re not 100% in love with the course, you have options depending on how you enrolled:
Pay In Full Option
You can switch to another course of equal or lesser value that’s a better fit or get a credit to use toward a future course.
Payment Plan Option
You can either get credit toward a future course, switch to another course of equal or lesser value that’s a better fit, or stop all future payments after a 30-day processing period.
No risk. No stress. Just the learning and belonging you have been looking for.
We can offer this because we know what we do works for thousands of other families. Kids become more self-confident. They find their people. And families tell us this is the place where their student finally feels welcome. We know it will work for your family, too.
All-Access Passes have separate terms and conditions. Please see the All-Access Pass pages.
It goes without saying, but we’ll say it anyway... to qualify for the satisfaction guarantee policy, you have to actually attend the classes. This is not a cancellation policy. It’s a satisfaction guarantee. You can’t be satisfied or dissatisfied if you don’t attend.
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About Young Scholars Academy
Young Scholars Academy is a virtual village that offers one-of-a-kind, engaging enrichment courses and community for 5-18-year-old bright, quirky kids to empower them to develop their strengths, make like-minded friends, cultivate life skills, build confidence, and feel great about themselves under the loving care of expert mentors. description2: >- Picture a place where your child fits in, is celebrated, mentored, and loves learning the unique content their beautiful brain craves. That happens every day at YSA for over 1,200+ families, and it can happen for your family, too.
WASC Accredited · 1,200+ Families · 93% Re-Enroll · 47+ States, 17 Countries, 6 Continents
Learn more about YSATheir best year starts here.
Right now, a kid who thinks like your kid is in a course they chose, with a mentor who was once just like them, surrounded by friends who don't think they're weird... they think they're interesting.
Your child is one click from finding out what that feels like.
