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Updated Monday, October 12, 2026Sussex County, DE
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Sussex Student Documenters · Planned pilot · Spring 2027

Get paid to cover the meetings that shape your town.

Sussex high-school juniors and seniors would attend real public meetings, take structured notes, and publish with an editor. Your first name and school on the byline. Your work in the Friday Issue.

Ask to be notified →For teachers & parents

Pilot school: to be announced. Applications are not open yet.

What you earn
Paid for each meeting you cover
  • Students are paid for each meeting they cover
  • Pay will follow Delaware wage and youth-employment rules
  • Editor review on every piece before it publishes
  • Clips you can use for college applications and contest entries

How it will work

1

Apply and train

Juniors and seniors. A short training on public meetings, notes, and sourcing.

2

Pick a meeting

Council, Planning & Zoning, school board, or your town council. In person or by livestream where one is offered.

3

File your notes

A structured form: who spoke, what was moved, how members voted, what comes next.

4

Publish with an editor

A Ledger editor checks every fact against the record. Then it runs with your byline.

Three students working together at a table with laptops
Recognition

The First State High School Communications Contest

The Delaware Press Association runs this annual statewide student contest. Pilot students will be pointed to it. Delaware Press Association contest page.

Pilot status

Planned for Spring 2027

The pilot is planned, not yet running. The pilot school is to be announced, and applications are not open.

Application

What we will ask for

First name, school, grade (11 or 12), the town you live in, a parent or guardian email for consent, and which meeting you would most like to cover, and why.

Interested?

Applications are not open yet. Email us to be told when they are, or to suggest your school for the pilot.

Email the newsroom