JAF at Your School

About JAF at Your School JAF Contests AATF-Boutique Annual Report Élan Archive FAQ

Requirements for Maintaining / Starting an Active JAF Charter

There are 3 basic requirements for your school to maintain an active French Honor Society which are detailed below.           

Requirement 1 - The teachers sponsoring the school's JAF charter must have Active Membership with the AATF
The sponsoring teacher of the Honor Society Charter needs to have their own individual membership with the AATF 
  • AATF membership is $55 (+ any optional local chapter dues) per calendar year (January 1st - December 31st) and must be renewed annually.
  • AATF membership can be purchased one of two ways:

If JAF sponsorship has changed to a new AATF member, please notify the Honor Society secretary

Not sure if your AATF Membership is active? Make sure you've logged into the site, and check your Member Compass here. It should show "active member until December 31st, 2024" on the right side like below:
Requirement 2 - Academic JAF Charters and Cultural JAF Charters 
The JAF Charter is what makes your school's honor society active and allows students to become official members and be eligible for JAF contests

Two types of Jeunes Amis du Français charters are available–Academic or Cultural, depending on the type of French classes offered in the school. 

Academic Charters of the JAF, require the school to offer at least one full academic year of French study at the middle school or junior high school level.

  • The members of the “Academic” charter must be enrolled in a full academic year of French study, maintain an excellent academic record with an A- (A minus) average in French or higher or equivalent and complete at least one service project to benefit the school and/or community in order to qualify for induction

Cultural Chapters of the JAF are available for schools where the program is exploratory in nature and for elementary school programs. 

  • The members of “Cultural” charters are expected to fulfill two service projects to benefit the school and/or community in order to qualify for induction. Jeunes Amis du Français charters may determine their own projects in accordance with school and community needs.

JAF Charters can be purchased or renewed here via our online store.

JAF Charters remain active as long as at least one student has been inducted in the last 2 years

Not sure if your school's JAF charter is active? Check the Active JAF charter Directory here
Requirement 3 - Eligible students must be formally inducted into your JAF charter through the AATF
Inducting students into your JAF charter costs $4 per student and formally makes your student a member of the JAF.
  • Inductions come with an editable digital certificate which can be customized and printed off for your ceremony.
  • JAF Inductions can be purchased online with multiple payment options (invoice, card or ACH)

 Click here to purchase inductions 

    • ******please note: users must be Active, Current AATF Members AND logged into the site in order to purchase
Additional, optional  printed induction certificates (as well as other JAF merchandise) may be purchased for students at the AATF-Boutique if desired, ONLY after the above three mandatory requirements are met.
Please see the AATF-Boutique page here for more information about JAF merchandise

All 3 requirements met? Great! You're all set! If you want to order additional merchandise, pins, or other items to celebrate your JAF charter and student members, check out the AATF-Boutique page here.

Additional Information Regarding JAF Policy & Procedures

Academic JAF Charters - basic induction requirements:
  •  Middle school or Junior High School student who is enrolled in a French class and is in the 8th grade or lower
  • Be enrolled in a full academic year of French study 
  • Maintain an excellent academic record with an A- (A minus) average in French or higher (or the equivalent grade)
  • Complete at least one service project to benefit the school and/or community (project as determined by the JAF sponsor)

Cultural JAF Charters - basic induction requirements:
  • Middle school or Junior High School student who is enrolled in a French class and is in the 8th grade or lower
  • Fulfill two service projects to benefit the school and/or community (projects as determined by the JAF sponsor)

Jeunes Amis du Français charters may determine their own projects in accordance with school and community needs.

The National JAF Constitution lays out in further detail who is eligible for membership with the French Honor Society, eligibility in specific circumstances (e.g.: transfer students, students who are home-schooled, etc.), and other JAF policies.

  • The complete text of the JAF National Constitution may be found here

If you wish to create your own local school-level JAF Constitution, you are encouraged to do so. Please note, local charter constitutions may exceed the requirements outlined in the National JAF Constitution, but not lower the requirements for JAF membership.

Any JAF Charter without a local JAF Constitution will be subject to the requirements as outlined on the National JAF Constitution. 

The Annual Report is a chance to let us know what your charter has accomplished this school year

The Annual Report form can be found here
The official JAF logo may not be reproduced by entities outside the AATF.
Sponsors may use the term "Jeunes Amis du Français" on materials and are welcome to create their own design. Suggested graphics include a fleur-de-lys, school mascot, or school logo.
We strongly discourage the use of the English equivalent, "French National Honor Society" since this name as well as "National Honor Society" are copyrighted by other associations.
Official AATF, SHF, & JAF logo use policy
Recognition program available to all JAF sponsors starting in 2023

Bronze level – JAF sponsors –
  • AATF member for 3 consecutive years
  • Induct students at least twice per 3 years
  • Submit annual report each year (due July 31st of each year)
Silver level -- Bronze level requirements for an additional 3 years.
Gold level -- Silver requirements for an additional 3 years.
Teachers earning this recognition will be honored during the AATF convention along with other AATF honorees.          
    Earning this recognition can also be great visibility for school programs (articles in the school newspaper/newsletter, recognition at school board meetings/back to school meetings, etc.)
There is no set ceremony, wording, script, etc. that must be followed for ceremonies inducting JAF students into the school JAF Charter.
Several sponsors have generously shared some of the documents they use for the initiation ceremonies, local constitutions, and JAF activities. Feel free to use them or be inspired by them, giving credit if appropriate.
If you would be willing to share documents you have found useful in your own JAF Charter, please contact the Honor Society Secretary.
Additional questions? Check the JAF FAQ here