Creating a Year-Round Advocacy Program Marie Sullivan, Legislative Consultant Washington State PTA

Why Should You Advocate? You make decisions that affect the education of children in your community, but… Decisions made in Olympia or Washington, DC affect your district’s: – Level of service to school-age children – Programs to help children achieve success – Operations – Budget – Staffing

Advocacy; Not “Arm-Twisting” Advocacy is about speaking up – Share your district’s success stories – You know what works on the ground – Increase understanding about how their decisions impact kids in the classroom Advocacy is about relationships – Get to know legislators and their staff – Understand the process, players, and issues

Getting Started Advocacy Opportunities: – Legislative Committee – members elected at annual conference – Legislative Assembly in Olympia – Serve as your board’s Legislative Chair – Regional meetings in the Spring or Fall – Legislative Updates to members – Federal Relations Network (FRN) to interact with Washington’s congressional delegation

Getting Started (continued) Community Opportunities: – Speaking to or becoming a member in service club organizations, associations, other boards – Knowing the reporters with the education beat for local media – Attending school-related events – Campaigning – for school director or on levy campaigns – And so much more. Remember: you are the best ambassador for your specific issues

Building a Year-Round Program Create a plan with goals, objectives, and strategies Identify what you can do individually, what you need others to do Establish timing that reflects decision-making cycles – what they need to know from you and when Target legislators, community partners, natural allies, potential opponents Pick 2-3 key issues critical to the district Develop messages, materials and a 30-second “elevator” speech related to those issues

Plan: Goals, Objectives, Strategies Be clear about what you want to happen Keep objectives simple Identify multiple strategies to speak up and establish relationships Add some milestones and measurements to help track progress Realize it will take time and is on-going

Plan: Who Does What Know what your strengths are; enlist others to help with the plan Make a list of decision makers you know, and one who influences those decision makers – then build a matrix for contacts Do your own research – on the issues, the players, and how decisions affect your district

January - MayJune - December Plan: Timing is Everything Legislature is in session Governor has 20 days to sign bills after session ends Best advocacy options: Calls, messages Letters or s (keep them short, simple) In-person Town Halls Legislators in district Task Forces, Work Groups, Agencies preparing reports Best advocacy options: Individual or small group meetings Education special events Community events Updates via or calls

Plan: Create a Target List Focus on all legislators in the school district Get to know legislative staff Reach out to community partners, natural allies

Plan: Pick Critical Issues Funding for education tops the list for all districts but if this is one of your issues … – Know how much state money you receive and what it buys, and how much is local funding Know if the issue is federal or state, and what the state’s role is to make a change Pick 2-3 issues to increase a level of understanding with legislators

How a Bill Becomes Law Bills are ideas that: – Create new law – Add to existing law – Change existing law Bills must pass both the Senate and the House of Representatives during a legislative session

Learn the Players Legislators from your district and staff – Know committee assignments – Know issues of interest/expertise – Personal information Legislators in leadership Legislators as committee chairs, ranking Committee staff Caucus (political) staff

Learn the Players (continued) OSPI Superintendent (separately elected) – OSPI leadership and staff State Board of Education members/staff Other lobbying organizations and lobbyists Other state agencies (Department of Early Learning, Department of Health, Washington State Department of Social and Health Services) Education advocate organizations and associations – Association of Washington School Principals: AWSP – League of Educated Voters: LEV – Partnership for Learning: PFL – Stand for Children: Stand – Washington Association of School Administrators: WASA – Washington Education Association: WEA

Example of Existing Activities One-on-One meetings with legislators in district Small group meetings between School Directors and legislators Meal “events” with legislators and community leaders Area meetings with legislators Candidat e forums Events that bring together legislators, school directors, and community partners Coalitions that bring together business, labor, education, community to support education Weekly calls during session

Tips: Calling Your Legislator During session, call Olympia. During interim, legislators may have a district # Ask for the legislators or specific assistant Give your name, title, school district Focus on one issue/bill State your position, include the “why” or rationale for the position Ask for your legislator’s position Ask for your legislator if you can count on their support or if they need additional information

Tips: Writing your Legislator Stick to one subject Be brief – one page letter or one screen Be positive and polite. Thank them for prior support and say “thank you” at end Ask for action – and a response Avoid form letters – make it compelling to the district Get others to write too – more voices get more attention – there is strength in numbers! On s, use when timing is crucial and include your postal address to show constituency

Tips: Meeting With Your Legislator Schedule the meeting well in advance Note the subject matter and other attendees Do your homework on the legislator and the issue Prepare the presentation If more than one person attending, pick a spokesperson to lead the conversation

Tips: Meeting with Your Legislator (continued) Introduce yourself and/or team Briefly present your case (2-3 minutes) – Provide “the facts”; avoid emotion or inflammatory words – Note the local impacts of the decision or consequences – Use visuals or compelling stories – Allow for questions, legislators to state their position Leave a one-page summary or statement Follow up with a written “thank you” – Restate your position – Provide answers to questions

Advocacy Resources TVW, Washington State Public Affairs Network: Legislature Web site: Hotline: (800)

Advocacy Resources Printed Materials – Citizen’s Guide to K-12 Finance ocuments/Publications/BudgetGuides/2009/K1209. pdf ocuments/Publications/BudgetGuides/2009/K1209. pdf – Washington School Finance Primer – Organization and Financing of Washington Public Schools n_Final%20Copy.pdf n_Final%20Copy.pdf