2. Advocacy 101 Megan Wolfe Government Relations Manager April 14, 2010

3. NASPE Advocacy NASPE envisions a society in which all individuals are physically educated and participate in lifelong physical activity.

4. NASPE Advocacy NASPE Mission Statement: To enhance knowledge, improve professional practice, and increase support for high quality physical education, sport and physical activity programs.

5. NASPE’s Strategic Plan Defining Principle : Facilitate the establishment of public policy that supports physical education, sport, and physical activity. Strategic Goal: Support the development of public policy that advances physical education, sport, and physical activity in the U.S.

6. NASPE Advocacy Advocacy or Lobbying? Advocate: Convey an opinion Lobby: Ask for something from an elected official Why Advocate or Lobby? To “enhance knowledge” and “disseminate information” NASPE’s unique perspective Unique opportunities: Evidence and data abound Climate is ripe for our message!

7. Why Advocate or Lobby? New evidence supporting association between physical fitness levels and academic performance—CDC study Opportunity to provide information no one else has to inform education policy If you don’t ask, who will? The stakes are simply too high, and the potential too great, for educators not to engage in advocacy efforts. In other words, SPEAK Out!!

8. Advocacy 101—7 Steps Identify the problem Prepare the message Understand the process Know who you are visiting The meeting Deliver your message Follow up

9. Identify the Problem What, specifically, do you want to change? Child/Youth obesity Schools not required to provide daily P.E. (SON) Fewer opportunities for P.E. & P.A. Teacher qualification Substitutions How can you address it? Amend current law Write new law Department of Education or even local school district

10. Prepare Your Message Know your issue: why are you here Identify NASPE—we are unique! Background/Personal anecdotes Specific “ask” Not vague argument: cosponsor a bill/sign a letter Allies & Enemies What groups support your “ask” What groups do not! Defend your position

11. Understand the Process How does a bill become a law? Language Sponsor Introduced/reported to Committee Hearings/Mark Up/Reported out Floor vote Conference Committee Importance of Committees Importance of staff

12. Know Who You Are Visiting Your Senator or Representative (AAHPERD LAC) Party Interests Positions on your issues (cosponsorship of FIT Kids) Committee Membership, Chairman or Ranking Minority Member Why should this person listen to YOU? Offer your credentials as someone who has experience in physical education

13. The Meeting Know where you are going Be polite, on time, professional and confident If you are running late, call to let them know: Capitol Switchboard: 202-224-3121 Treat staff members as respectfully as the Legislator Be positive—thank the Legislator if they have already supported your issues Provide your business card Avoid familiarity and avoid confrontation Don’t be awed—they are all just people and are there to serve and represent YOU as a voter!

14. Rep. Chaffetz and Todd Pennington May 7, 2009

15. Deliver Your Message Practice delivering your message. If in a group, determine who will speak first, who will make the “ask” and who will provide the leave-behinds. Be prepared to deliver your message in 5 minutes—policy makers are very busy and meetings may get interrupted by calls for Floor votes. Get a clear answer. Leave-behinds are key. If you don’t know the answer to a question, offer to find it and follow up!

16. Follow Up!! Please return meeting report forms to NASPE Send thank-you soon—email is best Coordinate your thank you with launch of Shape of the Nation Report online! Offer to provide additional information “Ask” again if you didn’t get a clear yes or no! Invite your legislator for a site visit, if at all possible, when he or she returns to the state/district

17. Review of Folders Legislator Folders: NASPE Leave Behind Shape of the Nation PEP & FIT Kids Let’s Move in School Public Policy Agenda (NASPE facts) Participant Folders: Left side: everything that’s in Legislator Folders Meeting schedule Capitol Hill Map Meeting Report Form CDC Study Summary

18. April 15, 2010 Meetings for:Teresa Delaney *Also Attending: 11:30 AMSen. Jeff Sessions (AL) *Casi Favre 335 RussellNCI (No Committees of Interest) Meeting w/ staff: Caroline Walker 12:00 noonLunch — Congressional Visitor ’ s Center 1:00 PMSen. Richard Shelby (D-AL) *Casi Favre 304 RussellSenate Appropriations Cmte. Meeting w/ staff: Graham Smith 2:30 PMRep. Spencer Bachus (AL-6 th ) *Beth Kirkpatrick 2246 RayburnNCI Meeting w/staff: Jennifer Pino 3:30 PMBus Leaves Peace Circle

19. 1 2 3 4

20. Let’s Move In School! Physical Activity Guidelines—60 mpd Children spend almost 30% (7 hours per day) of their time in school. IOM—30 of 60 provided by schools NASPE recommends 150/225 Schools not providing daily PE (Shape of the Nation) BUT--Schools are positioned to provide PE and PA throughout the school day. So…….

21. PE and Academic Performance (CDC Study) PE Attention/concentration Achievement test scores Recess Attention/concentration On-task behavior Classroom PA Attention, Classroom Behavior Achievement Test Scores Extracurricular PA Education Aspirations School attachment GPA

22. NASPE Asks: Support PE in ESEA (House—Kind bill) Physical Education as core subject Highly qualified PE teachers PEP Program Integrity & Funding at $100 mil. FIT Kids Report on quality and quantity of PE in Title I report cards Professional Development for PE teachers and others Promoting PA in other environments (21 st Century LC) Research study

23. NASPE Public Policy Agenda Background on NASPE NASPE Standards Public Policy Goals Public Policy Issues Resources

24. Notes If you have time between meetings, make use of it by stopping in to see other offices from your state. Some extra folders in back. If you have a 30 minute time frame between meetings, keep your meeting to 15 minutes! Comfortable shoes! Lunch at Congressional Visitor Center—restrictive! Bus leaves at 3:30 from Peace Circle (same as drop-off) In some cases, your cell phone number was requested, please answer any calls that come from 703 or 202 area code.

25. Notes You will NOT be provided with a snack/breakfast for the morning, so please give yourself time in the morning for fuel. IMPORTANT!! If you are running late, call Capitol Switchboard at 202-224-3121 and ask for your legislator’s office.

26. Role Playing Group assignments (Groups 1-6) Discuss unique arguments to help make your point Did any new issues arise? Four meeting components—take turns: Opening the meeting Making the case The asks Providing the leave-behind (Who will complete the report form and follow up)

27. Role Playing Additional questions/issues that may arise: General information about your school or district The “tough” questions—be prepared! Why should PE be considered academic? Why should the federal government require PE? What evidence do you have that PEP grants have benefited students?

28. Have fun! You are important to the process!! THANK YOU!