Advocacy Presentation Chief State Advocates Introductions Advocacy Overview

Advocacy Presentation Chief State Advocates

Introductions

Advocacy Overview Our Goal: Make government funds available to schools to enable and support participation in FIRST programs, with an emphasis on engaging under‐represented or under‐served populations in STEM. Sources of U. S. Public Education Funding for Grades K‐ 12* Federal Funding (9%) Local Funding (41%) State Funding (50%) *Source: U. S. Dept. of Education

Current Advocacy Efforts • Launching the Christa Mc. Auliffe Coin • Developing the Chief State Advocacy Program & Advocacy Resource Collection • Obtaining CARES Act Funding for State Programs • Building relationships in the Biden Administration

Bringing Advocacy to the State Level • Chief State Advocate Program ‐ Develop a network of FIRST “Advocates” who will be “responsible” for local advocacy efforts and communication of such activities to FIRST Headquarters and other key stakeholders. ‐ Initial Group: Carolyn Arthurs, Daphne Frownfelter and Dan Green

Chief State Advocates Goals • Introduce themselves and the position to FIRST Leaders, teams, Strategic Partners, etc. in their respective states • Develop Communication Plan for how to disseminate information to the statewide FIRST Community • Develop relationships with key state government members, policy leaders and staff • Schedule meetings with key state policy leaders to introduce FIRST (if not already familiar) • Determine best means for pursuing funding and developing the appropriate “asks” • Become a visible presence in the state within both the FIRST, political, and education communities • Develop relationships with appropriate FIRST Strategic Sponsors and determine how to best leverage their support • Work toward hosting a FIRST State Capitol STEM Day • Achieve additional funding for teams in the state • Catalog and engage with other state after-school advocates

Happy to Answer Questions! 7