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DIY Toolkit for Public Ed Advocacy
Prepare to advocate for public education in our region and statewide. You can start with the “how-to” of advocacy tips presented at the Advocacy 101 workshop December 2019 by Albany lobbying firm, Ostroff Associates. See an overview of Making Public Ed Advocacy Work. You can also learn some strategies from these Tips for State Level Advocacy from our friends at VoterVoice. Then look at how best to advocate for public education in NYS in 2023:
First, learn about the issues…
Regional Perspective:
WPSBA and the Lower Hudson Education Coalition (LHEC) have put together an advocacy agenda based on current NYS education issues and the Executive Budget.
- WPSBA State Advocacy Priorities
- LHEC Advocacy Agenda
- LHEC Advocacy Agenda for Board of Regents/NYSED
Statewide Education Perspective:
Other education organizations in NYS have shared their legislative priorities for public education:
- NYSSBA Legislative Priorities
- NYSCOSS - Ten Legislative Actions for SchoolSuccess
- The Educational Conference Board - Building a Solid Base for Foundation Aid Funding
Take Board action…
As a school board member, your views and the stories you can relate about how funding or regulations have affected your school district can be valuable information for legislators.
- WPSBA’s co-hosts an annual Public Ed Legislative Forum. All BOE members and Superintendents are invited to a panel discussion with NYS legislators discussing public education funding issues.
- A board member and the superintendent from many districts meet via Zoom with your state legislators in meetings arranged by WPSBA.
- Consider a Board resolution stating your views on the NY State budget or legislation.
Get your community involved…
Community letter-writing campaigns have been a successful tool of advocates since before the internet. Now, WPSBA and LHEC provide you with the electronic version of letters that can be sent to your local legislators with the click of a button! Tell your community where to find the VoterVoice campaigns supporting public schools:
Take a look at WestPut's recent advocacy campaigns and the info we have provided to our member districts.
