Advocacy Lee Ann Kendrick Regional Advocacy Specialist October

Advocacy Lee Ann Kendrick, Regional Advocacy Specialist October 2013

Advocacy • National PTAs Advocacy History • Review National PTAs Federal Public Policy Priorities • Grassroots Issue Campaigns

Have you ever met someone who thought PTA was all about bake sales and fundraising?

Advocacy National PTA Advocacy Video

Federal Public Policy Priorities Family Engagement and General Education • Reauthorization of the Elementary and Secondary Education Act (ESEA-NCLB) remains a top priority for National PTA including improvements that prioritize capacity building for the implementation of systematic and sustainable family engagement practices that increase student achievement. • Fighting for improvements to ESEA-NCLB including access to well-rounded curricula, equity protections for disadvantaged populations, and accountability to parents and the community.

Federal Public Policy Priorities Special Education Through the reauthorization of ESEA-NCLB and implementation IDEA, PTA will continue to advocate to ensure that – All students graduate college and are career-ready – IDEA maintains family engagement as a fundamental principle – Rights of children with special needs & their parents are protected

Federal Public Policy Priorities Early Childhood Education PTA supports federal and state incentives for highquality child-care and preschool programs that are: – Affordable and accessible – Characterized by high standards for teaching, training, health & safety – Incorporate strong family engagement components

Federal Public Policy Priorities Education Funding Federal investment in education is critical to our nation’s long-term success. PTA supports the need to safeguard education investments in – All federal deficit reduction efforts – Secure dedicated funding for family engagement – Increase funding for IDEA – Maintain or increase investments in quality early learning programs

Federal Public Policy Priorities Child Health and Nutrition National PTA strongly supports continued implementation of the Healthy, Hunger-Free Kids Act of 2010. • Implementation of federal guidelines for minimum nutrition standards for all foods sold to students in school • Guidance and technical assistance on local wellness policies • Continued support for improved nutrition standards for meals served as part of the National School Lunch Program

Federal Public Policy Priorities Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention Protecting the rights of children and youth in the justice system continues to be an area of focus for PTA. In 2013, PTA will advocate to ensure • That youth who are truant are kept out of secure juvenile corrections facilities by elimination of the Valid Court Order exception to the Deinstitutionalization of Status Offenders Core Requirements in federal legislation • Ensure that Jail Removal and Sight and Sound Separation core protections are extended to all children less than 18 years of age

Federal Public Policy Priorities School Safety PTA believes that the safety of children and faculty in all school settings is a fundamental right and has made it the utmost priority for our programmatic and advocacy work. In 2013, PTA will work to support federal programming and policies related to: – Safe routes to school – Bullying prevention – The protection of children from gun violence

Four Basic Forms of Organizing • • Direct Service Research and Education Concept of speaking out for others Grassroots

Direct Service Temporarily addresses the issue today and provides a direct service to someone Example: A PTA unit purchases new computers for a school that cannot afford them. This temporarily addresses the issue today and provides a direct service to the students and the school

Research and Education Researching information on a specific topic and educating members and/or the public on that particular issue Example: PTA issue briefs on pressing education issues like family engagement, Common Core State Standards or health and safety issues.

Concept of Speaking out for others This is just as it sounds, speaking out for others either as an individual or as a group. Example: PTA does this all time! Speaking up for every child with one voice

Grassroots Advocacy The people directly affected by the problem/issue take action to win a solution Example: I am a parent in the state of Indiana and I want better educational outcomes for all students in Indiana’s public schools so I organize all the other parents in Indiana to come up with a solution and then we pressure the state to make the change/improvement.

Grassroots Advocacy The Power of the People with the Problem to take Collective Action for a Solution.

Grassroots Advocacy Three Principles of Grassroots Advocacy • Win Solid Improvements • Make people aware of their own power • Alter the relationships of power.

Grassroots Advocacy Creating Your Grassroots Advocacy Campaign Step 1: Identify the problem Step 2: Turn the problem into an issue campaign Step 3: Create your strategy Step 4: Advocate!

Grassroots Advocacy Step 1: Identify the Problem – What is a problem that your PTA can address? • Did your state cut funding to education? • Is your state considering legislation you do not agree with? • Did your district cut bus service? • Does your school have safety problems during drop-offs and pick ups?

Grassroots Advocacy Step 2. Turn the problem into an issue campaign By identifying the solution

Grassroots Advocacy Step 3: Create your strategy • Using the Strategy Chart

Grassroots Advocacy Step 4: Launch your campaign! • Make sure you celebrate small victories along the way to keep your members inspired and energized • Be sure to constantly grow your team, especially for long campaigns.

Questions

For more information contact: Lee Ann Kendrick, Regional Advocacy Specialist (571)329 -9365 lkendrick@pta. org PTA. org