Legislative Advocacy

1. WWU Leadership Program Puyallup, January 14, 2011 Legislative Advocacy

2. Presentation Outline • Effective Advocacy • How to be Heard in Olympia • Advocacy Tips & Tricks • 2011 Legislative Session Update • WASA Legislative Agenda • Resources

3. Effective Advocacy • Be informed: • about the PROCESS • about the ISSUES • about the PLAYERS

4. Be Informed about the Process How a Bill Becomes Law: aka “Structured Chaos”

7. Be Informed about the Issues • WASA • Web site: www.wasa-oly.org • Newsletter: TWIO – This Week in Olympia • End of Session Report • WASA/WSSDA Legislative Conference • WSSDA, AWSP, PTA, WEA, OSPI

8. Be Informed about the Players • Legislators: • What District? • What Committee assignments? • Leadership position? • Issues of interest/expertise? • Personal information: occupation, social/civic memberships, schools attended, church affiliation, hobbies

9. Be Informed about the Players Additional Players in the process: • Legislator’s personal staff • Committee staff • Caucus staff • Agency liaisons • Lobbyists

10. How to be Heard in Olympia • Contacting your legislators • Personal letters • Phone calls • E-mail • Face-to-face meetings • Public testimony

11. Writing to Your Legislator(s) • Tips: • Think about your timing • Stick to one subject • Be brief • Be positive; be polite • Ask for action – and a response • Think about letters from students • Avoid form letters • Say “thank you”

12. Phoning Your Legislator(s) • Tips: • Ask for legislator or specific assistant (know the players) • Name, title, school district • Focus on one issue/bill • State your position – be prepared to provide rationale for position • Ask for your legislator’s position

13. E-mailing Your Legislator(s) • Tips: • See tips for “writing to your legislator(s)” (slide 11) • AND - • Limit e-mail to very short messages or if timing is crucial • Provide your full postal address (address of voter registration)

14. Meeting with Your Legislator(s) • Tips: • Schedule meeting well in advance • Note subject matter and attendees • Do your homework (know the process; issues; and players) • Prepare presentation; select spokesperson • Introduce yourself and/or team

15. Meeting with Your Legislator(s) • Tips, cont’d: • Briefly present your case • “just the facts” – avoid emotion • note the impacts • use visuals • Leave one-page summary • Follow up with written “thank you” • re-state your position • provide answers to questions

16. Public Testimony • Prior to testifying: • Prepare your remarks in writing if possible – provide to Committee staff • Be punctual to hearing • Locate sign-in sheet • Sign in with full name and address • Note support or opposition to bill • Be mindful of amendments or substitutes to your bill

17. Public Testimony • Making your remarks: • Introduce yourself; clearly indicate who you’re representing, if anyone • Be brief and be clear about your position • Avoid technical jargon, acronyms • Be prepared for questions – but don’t answer if you don’t know (“I’ll get back to you” – AND follow through)

18. Advocacy “Tips and Tricks” • Establish an ongoing, personal relationship with your legislators • Know your legislator’s staff • Keep Association staff informed • Collaborate with community groups • Attempt to personalize issues with names of students, teachers, school buildings, etc.

19. 2011 Legislative Session • State Operating Budget situation • WASA Legislative Agenda

20. Source: Office of Program Research, 12/10

21. Source: Office of Program Research, 12/10

22. What restrictions are there in reducing the budget? Source: Office of Financial Management, 12/10

23. 2011 Legislative Platform

24. Constitutional Paramount Duty It is the paramount duty of the state to make ample provision for the education of all children residing within its borders without distinction or preference on account of race, color, caste, or sex. (§ 1) The legislature shall provide for a general and uniform system of public schools. (§ 2) Constitution of the State of Washington Article IX - Education

25. McCleary v. State of Washington • 2005: The Network for Excellence in Washington Schools (NEWS) is formed • Comprised of 200+ organizations and school districts committed to improving the quality of public education in Washington • NEWS filed a lawsuit, asking the courts to order the State of Washington to live up to its paramount constitutional duty to make ample provision for the education of all Washington children http://waschoolexcellence.org/

26. Dollars in Billions Source: NEWS, 6/10 26

27. 27 Source: NEWS, 6/10

28. Local levy revenue at the same level as before Doran Decision Source: OSPI 5/10 28

29. McCleary v. State of Washington • 2009:McCleary v. State of Washington heard in King County Superior Court • 2010: Judge John Erlick rules for the plaintiffs, declaring the State’s failure to fully fund public schools is unconstitutional: • “This court is left with no doubt that under the State’s current financing system, the state is failing in its constitutional duty. “

30. McCleary v. State of Washington “State funding is not ample, it is not stable, and it is not dependable…local school districts continue to rely on local levies and other non-state resources to supplement state funding for a basic education.” “Paramount means preeminent, supreme, and more important than others. Funding K-12 education…is the state’s first and highest priority before any other state programs or operations.” - Judge John Erlick

31. McCleary v. State of Washington • Judge Erlick directed the Legislature to: • “determine the cost of amply providing for basic education and a basic program of education for all children” • “provide stable and dependable funding for such costs of basic education” http://www.kingcounty.gov/courts/SuperiorCourt/~/media/courts/SuperiorCourt/Docs/McCleary.ashx

32. WASA Legislative Platform Simple…but Bold: All actions taken by the 2011 Washington State Legislature must be evaluated in light of Judge John Erlick’s school funding decision in McCleary v. State of Washington.

33. WASA’s Message • An educated citizenry is critical to the state’s democracy; a well-educated population is the foundation of our democracy, our economy, and the American dream • Public education plays a critical role in promoting equality, operating as the great equalizer; public education provides unprivileged citizens with the tools they need to compete on a level playing field with citizens born into wealth or privilege

34. WASA’s Message • Education plays a critical role in building and maintaining a strong economy; public education builds the well-educated workforce necessary to attract more stable and higher wage jobs to the state’s economy • Washington’s duty to education is constitutionally declared to be its paramount duty • In summary: Public education is a wise “investment” in the future

35. Resources 35

37. Websites • WASA: www.wasa-oly.org • Education Associations: • WSSDA: www.wssda.org • AWSP: www.awsp.org • WEA: www.washingtonea.org • PTA: www.wastatepta.org • Education Agencies: • OSPI: www.k12.wa.us • SBE: www.sbe.wa.gov • PESB: www.pesb.wa.gov • Legislative-related: • Legislature Homepage: www.leg.wa.gov • Governor’s Homepage: www.governor.wa.gov • LEAP (Budget info): http://leap.leg.wa.gov/leap/default.asp

38. Daniel P. Steele Assistant Executive Director, Government Relations 825 Fifth Avenue SE Olympia, WA 98501 360.943.5717 dsteele@wasa-oly.org