Below are resources and information to help urban school leaders prepare for successful advocacy with legislators.
View the UEN Advocacy Handbook for more information and step-by-step
STEP 1 – KNOW YOUR LEGISLATORS (WHO)
Find out who represents you and their core values and positions on issues. Learn about their background. Build a relationship.
STEP 2 – KNOW YOUR PRIORITIES (WHAT)
Establish what’s most important to your district. What is it you want to happen? Learn about how much it will cost and what’s involved in a solution. What are both sides of the issue and the pros and cons? Look to UEN Issue Briefs and Calls to Action for details.
STEP 3 – KNOW YOUR DATA (WHY)
Why is the issue important? What is the impact to your district and to your legislator’s constituents? Prepare to be direct about the issues, using layman’s terms, explain the issue and why their action is necessary on behalf of the students in your school.
STEP 4 – PREPARE YOUR ASK (WHAT DO YOU WANT THEM TO DO)
Prepare for what you want the legislator to do. Be specific about your “ask” (vote for or vote against). Keep it short and simple, concise and to the point. Use the language of your legislators’ core values. Be positive, don’t be critical of others when making your case.
STEP 5 – CONTACT YOUR LEGISLATIVE ANALYST
It’s always a good idea to make sure you’re on the right track with another set of eyes on your Message Worksheet (from page 33). Get access to already prepared resources and make sure you have current data and talking points around your issue. Check out UEN’s Legislative webpage for tools and key messages.
STEP 6 – CONTACT YOUR LEGISLATOR AND MAKE THE ASK
Be sure to illustrate the impact of the solution. Ask for a commitment. If they disagree, listen to their position and keep channels of communication open. Follow up in writing afterward.
STEP 7 – FOLLOW UP
Say thank you. Be persistent and consistent.
ASSUME THE BEST IN YOUR LEGISLATORS
Your legislators are learning about and making decisions on hundreds of bills each year, making it difficult to keep track and know all the details about every issue. Give them the benefit of the doubt and assume they are doing their best to do the right thing.
FIND COMMON GROUND
Remember that most Americans have more in common than the current political environment may lead you to believe. According to Phillip Boyle, Local School Board Governance, 2004, public decisions involve choices and public choices always involve values. Core Values such as:
- Liberty: freedom, autonomy, choice, opportunity, individuality, privacy;
- Community: safety, security, belonging, social order, quality of life;
- Equality: fairness, justice, tolerance, diversity, equal treatment, equal opportunity; and
- Prosperity: productivity, efficiency, growth, markets.
FOCUS ON CORE VALUES
Which of those Core Values is critical to any particular policy choice? Which of these Core Values is central to your legislators’ framework? Tie your district’s priorities back to these Core Values by translating your needs into their language. For example:
- Prosperity/growing the Iowa Economy:
- Investments in PK save tax dollars down the road (prevention is worth a pound of cure or efficient use of tax dollars).
- Quality schools prepare a quality workforce (prepared graduates become tax contributors rather than tax consumers).
- What does it take for a quality teaching workforce in Iowa? Sufficient salaries and benefits to compete for human capital.
Before you meet with your legislators, use the following Message Worksheet to help you develop your message and talking points. Have it in front of you during the meeting or call. Use the bottom portion to take notes during the discussion.
View the Message Worksheet
Use this basic template to create your own action plan and timelines for connecting with candidates before an election or as a guide for advocacy to use throughout the year.