Indiana Non-Public Education Association

1. Indiana Non-Public Education Association Legislative Liaisons Orientation & Training January 10, 2011

2. INPEA • Who we are • Who we serve • Our focus

3. Why Legislative Liaisons? • Building an Infrastructure • Raising our Voice • Engaging and Mobilizing Private School Communities

4. Engaging in Public Policy • Advancing our Mission • Protecting our Independence • Advocating for School Choice • Engaging in State Legislation and Regulation Process • Providing a face and voice for Non-public schools and issues in Indiana

5. LL: Roles and Responsibilities • Work with School Administration on Public Policy Issues • Engage your local school community in public policy issues • Communicate INPEA public policy issues/alerts to your school community (parents & faculty & staff)

6. LL: Roles and Responsibilities • Help educate your parent community about particular public policy issues • When necessary help to organize local rallies or informational events • Share the private school perspective on issues with your elected representatives or public school representatives (write/call/attend hearings) and encourage others to do the same.

7. Liaison Goals – 2011Could be a historic year in Indiana!!!!! • Increase number of schools with Liaisons (one in every school) • Improve liaison communications with their school communities • Are you getting information out to your parents? • Increase parent response to their elected representatives • Are your parents contacting their representatives? • Submit School Legislative Communication Plan • Work with School Choice Field Reps. • Must raise level of engagement this year!!!!!!

9. Scholarship Tax CreditsPassed in 2009 • 50% State Tax Credit • Incentive to increase private giving • Program Cap – 2.5 million (5 million in scholarships) • Only Available to “new students” who meet financial eligibility guidelines • Scholarship Granting Organizations (SGOs) • Currently 4 approved • Evansville area, FWSB area, greater Marion County, Lafayette/North Central area (DOE Website)

10. 2011 could be Historic! • Impact of November elections • Education Reform Agenda • Governor’s Educational options package • Including “Choice State Scholarship Program” • National School Choice Week • School Choice Regional Directors (grassroots) • Marketing Campaign • Local and National Funders

11. National School Choice WeekJanuary 23- 29 • State and Local Activities • Regional Gatherings • “Waiting for Superman” in Indy (copies to be available soon) • Informational Rallies (with Tony Bennett) • Work with field reps. • Statehouse Visits begin (ongoing visible presence) • Write your Representatives about supporting school choice • Encourage Schools/Teachers to explore the topic of School Choice with students • www.whynotindiana.comwww.schoolchoiceweek.com

12. Choice Scholarship Program • “Anticipated” Legislation • Specifics are fluid until a bill is passed in both houses and signed by the Governor • More initial specifics will be available when the actual bill (s) are introduced • HUGE Grassroots effort will be necessary to pass legislation!

13. Choice Scholarship Program • Provides a percentage of State tuition support to eligible students wishing to enroll in a non-public school by transferring from a public school or entering at (the kindergarten level). Fiscal • Amount of tuition support would be on a sliding scale based on a new student’s financial eligibility • School must be accredited and take ISTEP or ECA. • Should not subject schools to additional regulations. • Private School Participation is voluntary

14. Choice Scholarship Program - Accountability • Private Schools being rated D or F in the State’s Accountability system could lose their ability to participate in the program. • Student count reporting and some limited financial reporting are expected to be required.

15. School Choice Messaging Pointers • School Choice is not about private schools; it’s about families and children and giving them opportunities to be successful. • School Choice will not destroy public schools. In states with active school choice programs, public schools have improved. • Private Schools that participate in school choice programs will not lose their autonomy. • School Choice Programs can save the State money.

16. Other Legislative or Regulatory Issues • Reducing/Controlling non-public school regulations • Improve access to state special education services • Accreditation reciprocity • Watching other legislation/rule and its impact on non-pubs

17. Next Steps • Meet with your School Head about engaging your school community in public policy • Communicating to parents about the importance of public policy engagement and the potential historic impact in 2011! • Develop a plan for improving communications to parents, educating them on the issues and to increase their responses to elected representatives (submit to INPEA) • Discuss plans for National School Choice Week

18. Next Steps Continued • Engage School community in local, regional and state events • Participate in Statehouse Visits • Work with INPEA and Choice Regional Field Reps on finding folks to write letters to the editor and to attend “third house” events • Call and write your elected reps and encourage your entire school community to do the same! • Develop plans to encourage members of your school community to attend the School Choice Rally on March 30th at the Statehouse • Watch for updates and alerts from INPEA

19. Web sites • INPEA www.inpea.org • School Choice Indiana www.schoolchoiceindiana.org • Friedman Foundation www.edchoice.org • 2011 Indiana School Choice Initiative www.whynotindiana.com • Indiana General Assembly • http://www.in.gov/legislative/index.html

20. INPEAIndiana Non-Public Education Association John Elcesser Executive Director 1400 N. Meridian St. Indianapolis, IN 46202 317-236-7329 jelcesser@archindy.org