1. Spring Academy defines alternative modes of learning and emancipatory pedagogy as all models of formal and non-formal democratic, agile and self-directed learning (as defined by EUDEC and the Alliance for Self-Directed Education).
2. The learning that Spring Academy nurtures is consent based, trauma informed and free of adultist models.
3. In the Articles of Association and the Guidance Document Spring Academy defines “education / learning and the approach to these” as what is commonly called “education” in a much broader sense that concerns the development of the individual at all levels, in all aspects of life.
4. Democratic Education does not have a singular, objective, or fixed meaning. It encompasses many different meanings, logics, understandings and a broad range of theories, philosophies, pedagogies and educational practices. Democratic education is defined by Spring Academy as education conducted in accordance with the 2005 resolution of the 13th International Democratic Education Conference (IDEC), Berlin, Germany.

The basis of democratic education lies in certain rights of students. In any educational structure, students have the right to:

• to make their own choices regarding learning and all other areas of everyday life. In particular, they may individually determine what to do, when, where, how and with whom, so long as their decisions do not infringe on the liberty of others to do the same.
• to have an equal share in the decision making as to how their organisations – in particular their schools – are run, and which rules and sanctions, if any, are necessary.

4. Spring Academy identifies regular democratic meetings with one vote per person as a basic necessity of democratic education.
5. Spring Academy defines the self-directed approach to learning, as defined by the Alliance for Self-Directed Education, as education that derives from the self-chosen activities and life experiences of the learner, whether or not those activities were chosen deliberately for the purpose of education.
6. Spring Academy defines agile learning as defined by ALCs intentional learning communities employing agile tools to support Self-Directed Education.
7. Spring Academy defines formal approaches to learning as defined by Coombs & Ahmed, to be the “highly institutionalised, chronologically graded and hierarchically structured ‘education system’, spanning lower primary school and the upper reaches of the university” (Coombs & Ahmed, 1974, p. 8).
8. Spring Academy defines non-formal approaches to learning as defined by Coombs & Ahmed, to be any organised, systematic, educational activity carried out outside the framework of the formal system to provide selected types of learning. Defined in this way, non-formal approaches to learning include, for example, extracurricular training programmes, clubs with substantial learning objectives, various community learning programmes, learning communities, learning cooperatives and other similar activities.

1. To act as a global, democratic, agile and self directed learning community for all ages and socio-economic situations with multiple actual localities and a digital  locality.
2. To provide educational services, in the context of formal and non-formal democratic, agile and self-directed approaches to learning, that are used according to the user’s wishes and needs. Services that are accessible to all ages, to unschoolers, homeschoolers, worldschoolers, pupils, students, adults, refugees.
   • to be educated in non-accredited (initially) educational structures providing programmes for formal validation of their studies
   • as extracurricular education or as an alternative to school
   • as specific vocational training
   • to complete higher and further education autonomously with the relevant permission of the competent state services
   • for those who have been injured , persecuted, expelled, abused, marginalised.
3. To create an Online Spring Academy which functions as a coordination node for the global learning community and as a digital centre for intergenerational and interdisciplinary learning.
4. To practise and simultaneously institutionalise the right to non-formal education by integrating various modes of education into formal education; for example unschooling, self-directed education, forest schooling, worldschooling, agile learning centres. Based on the right of free choice in the kind of education as stated in the Greek Constitution (in particular article 5), the Universal Declaration of Human Rights of the United Nations: (article 26)., the Convention of the Rights of the Child of the United Nations, (articles 5 and 12 amongst others), the ICCPR, (article 18 par. 4 together with article 4 par. 2), the EU Charter of Fundamental Human Rights of the EU, (article 14 par. 4.).
5. To have a dynamic, active relationship with the public sector by being open to the public including schools, offering in appropriate and special programmes, prepared specifically for schools, universities, educators, schoolchildren and students in the public system and taking part in public sector programmes.
6. To propose to the IEP (Institute of Educational Policy) that Spring Academy programmes be approved for inclusion in all levels of public education.
7. To offer a prototype legal framework for open use in alternative educational initiatives  of various kinds both within and outside Greece. Initiatives could range from small learning communities to educational institutions and can function as partners or affiliates.
8. To advocate for the legitimisation of learning communities as public educational structures with access to any educational process and provision chosen by each community.
9. To be integrated into public education.
10. To create new work opportunities in the field of learning and to be sustainable for both those who serve it and those it serves. Consequently to cover its costs while maintaining high quality in its services, facilities and equipment, to provide decent wages to those who work for it, not to require tuition fees.
11. To undertake international cooperation with cultural and civil society organisations such as research centres, universities, university foundations and networks, scientific companies and societies, public and private authorities, schools, institutes, workshops, laboratories, higher and technical education institutions, social cooperatives, NGOs, Local Government Organisations, agricultural organisations, providers of education, training, cross-sectoral-vocational training and any formation and structure in order to achieve the mentioned goals.
12. The creation and implementation of proactive programmes in the areas of protection of human rights, the rights of women and minors (according to the articles of the Constitution and the United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child but also of Human Rights in general), humanitarian assistance, social care and welfare, education, vocational training and professional career guidance.
13. Promoting measures to create methods of direct support to vulnerable, excluded and  marginalised people and communities (special needs, Roma, LGBT, migrants, survivors, children and others).
14. To offer refuge/accommodation wherever necessary (to adults, minors, unaccompanied minors, refugees, the homeless, abused women et al) in any case where it is required and there is a need.
15. To operate on a nationwide basis as well as in any country outside Greece.

15. To establish branches in other municipalities of Greece and abroad as well as to be able to participate in the establishment of other associations with the same or similar purposes and in non-profit companies and other organisations both in Greece and abroad. 
16. To be able to award certificates of attendance to participants of Spring Academy activities.  
17. To facilitate the certification of qualifications and the identification, recording, evaluation and certification on the basis of learning outcomes, as regulated by the mechanisms of validation of non-formal education and non-formal learning (EOPPEP, CEDEFOP etc.); undertaking educational activities in university and non-university context. 
18. To pursue in general all the purposes described in article 3 of the Articles of Association of the Academy with all the means defined in article 4 of the the Articles of Association of the Academy.  

The Spring Academy learning community is literally a community.

All members give and take.

There are neither hierarchies nor consumers.

All members from 8 years and over participate in the Cοοrdination Circle (and others of their choice) and from 4 years and over participate with requests and offers.

These ages are indicative, younger people who want to participate equally may do so.

Statement of non-discrimination

Spring Academy will not discriminate in the registration and participation of members in terms of nationality, colour, religion, gender, gender characteristics, gender identity, family status, national origin, age, special needs, disability or sexual orientation.

Spring Academy is committed to:

• promoting a culture of democracy, inclusiveness and non-discrimination
• ensuring that all people have an equal opportunity to attend Spring Academy
• ensuring that all members have an equal opportunity to participate in discussion and decision-making
• ensuring that all policies, communications and practices, without discrimination or intimidation, have impartial results.
• implementing to the fullest extent the United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child.
  • The full implementation of the Convention requires the revision of its articles as well as its translations which are a violation of the rights of the child. This review is legally required and is 40 years late.

• implementing to the fullest extent Article 12 of the United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child: “You have the right to express your opinion on decisions concerning your life and your views must be taken into account”
• respecting fully the right to “Freely Develop the Personality in all aspects that compose it” (article 5 of the Greek Constitution).
• collaborating beyond ideological differences with projects or individuals as long as their work is in line with the principles of Spring Academy.

Declaration of zero tolerance

Spring Academy operation will not include or tolerate:

• Any form of coercive / authoritarian / adultist pedagogy
• Any form of religious and socio-political indoctrination
• Any form of homophobia and repression of diversity in general, any denial of human potential and qualities due to color, race, gender identity, sexual preferences
• Any form of nationalism 

3: 1 INTRODUCTION OF MEMBERS

1. The regular members of the Spring Academy (as listed in Article 5 of the Articles of Association) are minors and adults and are divided into candidate members, support members and participating members. All members register, upon their request (either in person or through a specially designed digital platform) to the New Member Admission Circle of Spring Academy.

Members of the association can be of any nationality, who accept the purposes and principles of the Association, after first studying and signing a statement of consent to its Articles of Association and Guidance Document (including hyperlinks) and go through the appropriate admission process.

2. Members of the association can be minors under 18 years of any nationality, gender, etc., who can attend and participate in any of the association’s activities appropriate to their age that they wish.
3. Members can be Bodies (indicatively: schools, informal educational structures, Social Cooperative Enterprises) through up to two of their representatives, who must be regular members of Spring Academy.

• Candidate members: members who participate for a trial period of up to 2 months without paying any subscription but paying “non-member prices” for participating in activities. They are expected to participate in the meetings of the Coordination Circle without voting. INTRODUCTION PROCEDURE B
• Support members: members who pay the annual contribution. They are expected to participate in the General Assemblies 2 times a year and optionally in extraordinary meetings. They stay informed about the issues of the General Assembly and extraordinary meetings and declare in writing up to one day before in which subject / s they will participate with one vote without necessarily being members of the Coordination Circle or other circles. For their participation in activities they pay non-member prices. INTRODUCTION PROCEDURE A
• Participant members: members who pay both the annual and the monthly participation, participate at least in the Coordination Circle and all its meetings, with full voting capacity, make offers and requests and participate in the activities. either for free or (in the activities with more expenses than what Spring Academy can cover) with a corresponding contribution. INTRODUCTION PROCEDURE A.

4. The registration of the members takes place with a decision of the New Member Admission Circle after their application. Only regular members have the right to vote in any case. Anyone can become a member by submitting an application to the New Member Admission Circle. The New Member Admission Circle Has the authority to accept or reject any application. In case of a negative answer, the applicant has the right to address the General Assembly to make a final decision. Every new member who has been accepted, is notified in time for their acceptance by the Secretariat Circle.

INTRODUCTION PROCEDURE A.

• Digital  application (can be done by phone, by post or in person for those who cannot apply online)
• In person, online or hybrid. First meeting with New Member Admission Circle Signing Consent Declaration and payment

INTRODUCTION PROCEDURE B.

• Digital application (can be done by phone, by post or in person for those who cannot apply online)
• In person, online or hybrid. First meeting with the New Member Admission Circle
• Maximum period of 2 months of practical acquaintance with the organisation of Spring Academy
• Second meeting with the New Member Admission Circle
• Signing Consent Declaration and payment

Spring Academy has non-member Partners and Sponsors.

• Collaborators: are selected by a decision of the New Member Admission Circleand approval of the Coordination Circle. A basic agreement of purposes and principles is required. Without subscription, introduction  procedure, vote.
  • Mentors who are not members
  • Bodies
•  Sponsors: Without subscription, introduction  procedure, vote.

3: 2 REGULAR MEMBER

Members are  considered regular members if they are a Support or a Participant Member of any age, unless their membership has expired or they  have been expelled from the General Assembly or the Audit Committee. A member whose membership has expired can return to regularity by paying the due subscriptions. An expelled member can return to regularity only by decision of the General Assembly.

3: 2.1 VOTING RIGHTS

A person as a full member is entitled to one vote for each question / suggestion that arises in any meeting of the members.

3:2.2 MEMBERSHIP AUTHORIZATION

A full member of the association may authorise in writing and electronically another full member of Spring Academy to represent him / her by his / her vote in any regular or extraordinary General Assembly. The power of attorney is valid only for open ballots and is not allowed for secret ballots, confidence votes and by-elections.

3: 2.3 RESIGNATION OF MEMBER

Any member can request in writing their deletion from the membership book at any time. Subscription fees are non-refundable. Regular and cooperating members may resign from any office to which they have been elected or offer their services in the form of a written resignation by email or post. The resignation is valid 2 weeks later and only after the assignment of their role / responsibilities to another member, the delivery of material / work done / codes / contact lists or other important items to the replacement.The resigned member must remain available to support the replacement for as long as needed upon mutual agreement. The material emerging from the work of any member belongs to Spring Academy.

3: 3 SUBSCRIPTION

All  regular members pay an annual membership fee and participant members  also pay a monthly subscription, the scale of which is determined by the General Assembly. The billing for minors is half of the amount, both for the annual and the monthly subscription. The decision is valid until a new relevant decision is issued. The period of validity of the annual subscription lasts for a year and begins with its payment in the first 10 days after a member’s registration. The monthly subscription is paid in the first 5 days of the month.

All contributions are on a sliding scale (each member chooses independently on which point of the scale they will contribute) and it is possible to apply for a  25%, 50%, 75% or 100% Scholarship of the lower scale (especially people whose financial strengths do not allow payment in full or in part). Scholarship applications are handled by the New Member Admission Circle .

Annual contribution

Minors: 25-50 euro

Adults: 50-100 euro 

Monthly Contribution

Minors: 10-30 euro

Adults: 20-60 euro

3: 3.1 TERMINATION OF MEMBER REGULARITY

Any regular member whose membership has expired loses the right to vote on the decisions of the General Assembly and the right to vote and to be elected to the bodies of Spring Academy.

3: 3.2 RESTORATION OF MEMBER REGULARITY

Former members can renew their membership at any time by paying the current membership without having to re-apply.

3: 4. CHANGES IN THE SUBSCRIPTION PAYMENT SCHEDULE

The payment schedule of subscriptions can be changed by the General Assembly.

3: 5 MEMBER COMPLAINT

If a member believes that any of the activities or announcements of Spring Academy are contrary to the provisions of the Articles of Association or the Guidance Document , they must submit a written complaint to the Board or to the Audit Committee. The body  must respond in writing within 14 days.

3: 6 DELETING  MEMBERS FROM SPRING ACADEMY

A member may be removed from the register for the following reasons:

1. It has been proven that the member with her/actions, obstructs the objectives of article 3 of the Articles of Association or does not comply with the Statement of non-discrimination of article 4 of the present.
2. The member has been shown to have acted against the decisions codified in this Guidance Document or the Articles of Association or of the General Assembly or has not acted in the best interests of Spring Academy.
3. The member has represented Spring Academy in a manner unacceptable to the common rules.
4. The member has not fulfilled her/ his official role as defined in this Guidance Document 
5. The member has been proven to have accepted a bribe, either in the form of currency, payment in kind or personal benefits of any kind.
6. The member has manifested aggressive and / or racist and / or adultist behaviour or attempts to disrupt the unity of  Spring Academy in any way, to harm Spring Academy and / or another member of the Community or using tricks and / or psychological-physical-verbal violence.
7. It is proposed by the working circle  or the body in which the member has been elected or by the audit committee.

The removal of a member is the exclusive responsibility of the General Assembly.

3.7 REMOVAL OF A MEMBER FROM AN ELECTED POSITION

A member is removed from an organ of Spring Academy if there is the consent of the other members of the body / circle if he / she has been seen to act in abusive, racist, homophobic, sexist, adultist, intolerant, threatening, aggressive,  intimidating way(s) to other member/s. Discussions on Spring Academy issues should not be involved in personal discussions and members should clearly separate and respect the other members’ personal lives and their role within Spring Academy. In the event that such incidents of unacceptable behaviour are observed or reported, members may convene a human circle / conflict resolution circle / Nonviolent Communication circle or contact the Oversight Circle to address them. The members involved and the responsible body address such issues, requesting if necessary assistance from a sociocratic advisor, non-violent communication mediator or any relevant specialty inside or outside the Association. Members involved in such incidents more than twice are reported to the General Assembly with the request to be removed from the register if the responsible circle and the Oversight Circle consent to the proposal.

According to the Articles of Association Spring Academy Bodies are defined  as follows: General Assembly consists of the Coordinating Circle (all members), the Council (part of the Coordinating Circle, officially called the Board of Directors), the Audit Committee (integrated in the Oversight Circle) and the Election Committee.

For the operation of the bodies and the responsibilities of their members, see Articles 6, 7, 8, 9, 10 11 and 12 of the Articles of Association. In 2018, after training, the use of the Sociocratic  Circular method was approved as the basis for Spring Academy’s  organisation and decision-making. Since then it remains the basis of the community’s internal organisation  and general operation in combination with other methods of deep democracy.

4.1 GENERAL ASSEMBLY

It is the supreme body of Spring Academy. It is convened under the responsibility of the Council regularly in the first and third quarter of each year and extraordinarily whenever the Council or the Coordinating Circle deems necessary for the interest of Spring Academy or whenever requested in writing or electronically by 1/5 of the regular members.

4.1.1 EXCLUSIVE RESPONSIBILITIES OF THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY according to articles.7 of the Articles of Association but also based on the present are:

•  Amendments to the Articles of Association and the Guidance Document.
• Any purchase or sale of real estate.
• Any loan taken on behalf of Spring Academy.
• Participation of Spring Academy in another organisation or association.
• The approval of the annual budget.
• The approval of the report of the audit committee and the discharge of the board of directors from any responsibility for the administrative and financial affairs.
•  Proposals for the dissolution of Spring Academy
• Any expense over € 50,000

4.2 ELECTION COMMITTEE

It is elected by the electoral assembly and its members are not allowed to be candidates for any position of Spring Academy. It has three members and is responsible for conducting the appointments whether they are done by ballot box or electronically according to the decision of the General Assembly. The responsibilities and operation of the committee are in article 14 of the Articles of Association .

4.3 AUDIT COMMITTEE

It is a body of Spring Academy that operates in accordance with Article 15 of the Articles of Association. It consists of three members and by internal elections elects the president and secretary from among its members. The purpose of the committee is to control the administrative and financial affairs of the Board of Directors and to submit a relevant report to the General Assembly.

4.3.1. INDICATIVE RESPONSIBILITIES OF THE AUDIT COMMITTEE

• Facilitates and advises the General Assembly, the Coordinating Circle and the Board in case of dispute or inability to make a decision.
• Prepares the results of the audit of the financial and administrative activities of the Board of Directors as a written proposal to the General Assembly before the elections or even in between if requested by the General Assembly
• Resolves disputes and addresses complaints of members in accordance with the regulations and the spirit of the Articles of Association and Guidance Document. Suspends the membership of the Councils or any other member of a working group or other committee (par. 3.7 of the present )
• Proposes to the General Assembly the deletion of members (par.3.6 of the present)

4.4 COORDINATING CIRCLE WITH INTEGRATED COUNCIL 

The official structure of the Association is expanded with the Guidance Document and the Circles.

The Board has no pyramidal organisation and is called Council.

The Chair has no more decision-making power or legal responsibility than the other members of Council. The names Chair, Vice-Chair, Secretary, Treasurer and Members are used only where legally necessary.

All members of the Board are called Councillors.

The skills of the members correspond to their roles.

The members and the board staff the circles according to the priorities set by the Coordination Circle so that they are complete and functional and according to the skills they have / want to acquire.

The Treasurer of the Council participates at least in the Finance Circle.

The Secretary of the Council at least in the Secretariat circle.

The Association does not have a pyramidal organisation.

The Council does not have a decision-making and implementation role but a coordinating role.

The Council is integrated into the Coordination Circle.

The Coordination Circle consists of all members of all ages. It holds Coordination Meetings every two months and extraordinary meetings whenever necessary.

Two of these Meetings per year (one every six months) are General Assemblies.

The Coordination Circle operates by consensus, not by majority.

It ratifies the decisions of the Council and the Circles.

Strategic decisions are taken at the General Assemblies.

Non-strategic decisions are made in Circles.

The goal is to distribute decision-making power equally throughout the community (and to all ages) even though officially there is a pyramidal (adult only) structure.

Decisions are made by consensus after a decision of the members on which method will ensure the result on  each issue that is put to decision and according to the sociocratic method and any method that arises from it and is in accordance with the principles of Spring Academy.

Any member of Spring Academy can be part of a circle and be part of the non-strategic decision process.

4.11 GENERAL PROVISIONS FOR BODIES/ CIRCLES.

The General Assembly, the Coordination Circle and the Council may set up temporary or standing committees and working groups.

All committees, working groups and bodies of the association may be governed by internal procedures, provided that they relate only to the internal operation of that body / circle / working group. All decisions / procedures are subject to the articles of the Guidance Document and the Articles of Association and should in no way contradict these terms. In internal procedures, decisions are taken either by unanimity or with the consent of the members and may be amended or repealed either by unanimity or by consensus.

All decisions are binding on all members of that body / committee / working group. Before undertaking a key role / task, it is proposed to carry out a process of clarification and consensus on the nature, responsibilities, logistical needs and the realistic (collective and individual) timeline of the task. It is the responsibility of the member who takes on a role to ask for what is needed in order to fulfil the duties s/he has undertaken. It is recommended that each circle  consists of at least two people familiar with the subject or people with experience working in the circle.