Our Virtual Village
Events in our Virtual Village
We’re a Virtual Village that offers community support through regular transformative events.
VIP
Exclusive access for our enrolled families
Priority
Enrolled families get priority access to limited seats
Open
Open to all families in our extended village (our mailing list)
VIP · Enrolled families
Coming up for our VIP families
Live expert talks and gatherings included with enrollment this season. Times are Pacific.
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Wednesday, October 28th
4 pm PT
VIP onlyShoshana Friedman
PDA Safe Circle Talk
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Wednesday, December 16th
5 pm PT
VIP onlyWendy Denham
PDA: Understanding What PDA Is, Psychoeducation, Nervous System Regulation, and How to Support Your Child
Our next season of live events is being scheduled.
Join our mailing list below and we’ll let you know the moment new expert talks, Coffee & Connect hours, and student showcases open up.
Already held this season
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Thursday, October 15th
5 pm PT
VIP onlyDebra Brause
Drop What You Know (YSA Mom & Psychologist)
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Wednesday, September 16th
5 pm PT
VIP onlyPTA Meeting with Mr. Sam
A space for enrolled YSA families to connect directly with Mr. Sam — share ideas, ask questions, offer feedback, or just talk through what's on your mind.
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Wednesday, September 2nd
4–5 pm PT
VIP onlyDr Matt Zakreski
Riding out the Storm: Emotional Regulation for ND Kids
Every enrolled family gets VIP access to these talks — plus the Expert Vault of past recordings.
Explore Fall coursesPast Exclusive Events
A look back at expert talks and gatherings from our virtual village. Enrolled families get access to the full Expert Vault of recordings.
1/13
Understanding Different Minds
Dr. Temple Grandin
2/12
Empowering Students with Strength-Based Assessments
Dr. Jade Rivera
3/5
Hidden & Misunderstood Trauma in 2e Students
Dr. Sandra Clifton
10/30
Screen Time and Tech Addiction Talk
Julia Storm
11/13
Live Sit-Down & Q&A
Dr. Danika Maddocks
11/20
Live Sit-Down & Q&A
Tosha Schore
See an event you like?
Input your email below and we’ll put you on the list!
COMMON QUESTIONS
Questions Parents Ask.
Everything you need to know about Young Scholars Academy.
What is Young Scholars Academy?
YSA is a WASC-accredited virtual village for gifted, twice-exceptional, and differently-wired students ages 5–25. We offer 200+ live online courses (from Minecraft Redstone Engineering to AP Psychology to Mock Trial) with a maximum of 6–8 students per course, taught by 20 hand-selected mentor teachers who are neurodivergent themselves. We serve 1,200+ families across 47+ states and 17 countries. This is not a marketplace. It's a school and a community.
How does it work?
During Fall and Spring semesters, courses meet once a week, live on Zoom, 50 minutes per session. During Summer, camps run Monday through Friday, one week at a time. When your child enrolls in 3 or more courses, they get free access to Homeroom Social Club — a weekly gathering with a consistent group of friends. Between courses, students hang out on our virtual campus where they walk as avatars, eat lunch together, and build real friendships with kids from around the world who finally get them.
Who is this for?
Gifted, twice-exceptional, and differently-wired students, including kids with ADHD, autism, giftedness, anxiety, dyslexia, and PDA. No diagnosis required. If your child is clever, quirky, and hasn't found their people yet, they belong here. About 65% of our families homeschool. The rest use us alongside traditional or charter schools.
Is this a low-demand environment?
Yes. Enrichment courses have no grades and no traditional homework. However, for-credit courses include assignments and letter grades. Cameras always optional. Challenge by choice. Students are never cold-called, never forced to participate, and never penalized for how they choose to engage. For students with PDA, demand avoidance, or anxiety, this is the difference between a program they resist and one they ask to log into.
How much does it cost?
Semester courses start at $624. Summer camps are $149–$169 per camp. Payment plans, sibling discounts, referral credits, and ESA/charter funding accepted. We're an approved vendor with 10+ state ESA programs.
Will my child actually make friends?
This is the part that surprises parents most. Your child joins a course about something they love and meets 6–8 kids who love it too. Same group all semester (or all week for camps). Parents tell us their children are more connected with this community than with anyone physically around them. 93% of families re-enroll because their kids won't let them stop.
What if it doesn't work?
100% Satisfaction Guarantee. Switch courses, receive a credit, or stop payments. No questions asked. We can offer this because we know what happens when these kids find their people.
What do parents get?
Virtual Coffee & Connect hours every couple of weeks. Regular Expert Talks with leaders like Seth Perler, Debbie Reber, and Dr. Temple Grandin. A Facebook group where families connect and support each other. Progress updates from mentors. And the ability to watch your child's courses anytime (just stay off camera). You're not just enrolling your child. You're joining a village.