School Year Abroad was established as an independent nonprofit institution chartered in the Commonwealth of Massachusetts in 1975. SYA's president, executive director, resident directors and home office department directors work with the board of trustees to ensure School Year Abroad remains an innovative and vibrant organization. The Board of Trustees is comprised of heads of independent schools, alumni and friends of SYA. At all times, one of the heads of SYA's founding charter member schools -- Phillips Academy, Phillips Exeter Academy and St. Paul's School -- sits on the board. The full board meets three times annually.

In addition to the three founding charter schools, SYA's association includes a consortium of 42 top U.S. independent high schools who have demonstrated a strong commitment to foreign language instruction and global education.

Only about half of SYA's students come from the member schools each year, so there is always room for students from other high schools. Nearly 900 public, parochial and independent high schools have sent students to our schools.