NYS Council of School Superintendents

1. NYS Council of School Superintendents

2. Advocacy … the act or process of supporting a cause or proposal

3. A Call to Action Part 1: Overview of the Legislative Process Part 2: Discussion of NYS Budget and issues Part 3: How to Advocate

4. Part 1: The Legislative Process: • WHERE do I advocate and • WHO should I speak with?

5. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=H-eYBZFEzf8

6. The Senate and AssemblyYour representatives

7. When Do I Speak Up? What Do I say? “How did it get so late so soon?” ~ Dr. Seuss

8. Part 2: State Budget Issues & tools you can use • Gap Elimination Adjustment and Restorations • Adequate Funding • Mandate Relief

9. The Budget process • Governor proposes a budget (usually mid-January) • Final budget is approved through negotiations between the Governor, Senate and Assembly • State fiscal year starts April 1 • Due to timing of religious holidays this year, the Legislature is aiming to finish the budget by March 21

10. Governor Cuomo’s proposed budget for education • $611 million (3.0%) increase in School Aid: • $550 million (2.77%) through formulas appearing on School Aid runs • $60 million to competitive grants and other programs • Total reflects  state cap on School Aid growth tied to change in statewide personal income • $75 million for Education Reform Commission initiatives • Full-day prekindergarten, Community Schools, extended learning time, rewarding high performing teachers, Early College High Schools – not allocated to districts yet. • $203 million for a Financial Stabilization Fund • to be allocated through negotiations with the Legislature • Mandate Relief:  • Optional Stable Pension Rate • Special Education Waivers • Paperwork Reduction

11. School Aid – 3 “moving pieces” $550 million (2.77%) through formulas appearing on School Aid runs: • Gap Elimination Adjustment Restoration: $322 million increase in general purpose aid . • High Tax Aid: $50 million net reduction (some districts would gain from proposal). • Everything Else: $289 million net increases to all other aids, funded under current law.  • Increases/decreases occur due to changes in the data that is plugged into formulas. The Governor has not proposed changing these formulas. and… $203 million “Financial Stabilization Fund” – not allocated on runs The Governor has provided Legislators a way to increase School Aid for their local districts, without increasing the size of the state budget beyond what he proposed. See a post on our blog (blog.nyscoss.org for more explanation: http://blog.nyscoss.org/index.php/the-governors-school-aid-proposal-understanding-the-moving-parts/

12. A tool you can use – from the Council’s website – www.nyscoss.org Look for “The Governor’s School Aid proposal & your district” under Council News 12

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15. Part 3:So, how Do I Advocate? 15

16. If you have only one wish, and you can wish for anything at all, what should you wish for??? 16

17. Advocacy is not about salesmanship or crisis intervention, it’s about building relationships. The only way to have a friend is to be one. ~ Ralph Waldo Emerson and… When you really need a friend, its too late to make one. 17

18. I am as powerful as you think I am. • Schools must balance what students need and what taxpayers can afford. • Local leaders must translate statewide policies into sensible practices. 18

19. Communicate – Be Vocal The squeaky wheel gets the grease. and… Either you try to make a difference, or you make a difference by not trying. 19

20. Allies 20

21. Tell your story 21

22. Tell your story 22

23. Telling your story… • Be sure to share some good news about your school(s). • Tell about the impact of some of the tough budget decisions that have affected your school(s) in recent years. • If possible, explain some creative steps your district has taken to save money to spare students from worse actions. • Describe the tough choices your district is facing now and how state policies and proposed state policies are affecting those choices. and… 23

24. Telling your story… 5. Ask the Legislator to support your agenda Examples: • Eliminate the Gap Elimination Adjustment • Provide adequate state aid to education • Provide a meaningful measure of mandate relief • Move money from competitive grants to GEA reductions 24

25. Ask… Conclude by asking: • What will you do to help us? • If they ask, “What do you want me to do?,” repeat your action agenda (#5 on last slide); and • Finally ask, “Will you ask your leadership to support what we need?” 25

26. ‘The fool tells me his reasons, the wise man persuades me with my own’ • ~ Aristotle 26

27. Observe • ob·serve • /əbˈzərv/ • Verb • Notice or perceive (something) and register it as being significant. • Watch (someone or something) carefully and attentively. 27

28. Why? 28

29. A Tale of Two Brothers 29

30. More Stories Education Speaks:  http://educationspeaks.org/advocacy/ Capital Region BOCES: https://www.capitalregionboces.org/News/2012-2013/NYSchoolsInPeril.cfm Check out your district’s website too. 30

31. A Message of • Necessity http://animoto.com/play/mpsEPgwhbUQe5baOpZje1A 31

32. Now its time to tell your story There is no greater agony than bearing an untold story inside you. ~ Maya Angelou

33. New York State Council of School Superintendents 7 Elk Street, 3rd Floor Albany, NY 12207 (518)449-1063 www.nyscoss.org Check out our blog – blog.nyscoss.org Follow us on Twitter ~ Like us on Facebook