It's Advocacy Time Again in 2010

We are now into the second year of the current administration’s term and state and federal legislators, governors, chief state school officers, and state and local school board members are ramping up their plans for funding and education policy and implementation! This presents an excellent opportunity to contact elected officials to acquaint them with Reading Recovery and identify yourself an in information source. Below are nine suggestions on how to make it “Advocacy Time Again in 2010!”

1. Surf the Internet for websites and information about office holders and other decision makers, and issues with potential to impact education in your community. You may want to start with RRCNA’s Advocacy Calendar which includes congressional district work periods, literacy commemorative events, etc.
    
2. Sign up for free e-newsletters from your elected local, state, and federal officials.
    
3. Read your governor’s 2010 state of the state address and economic recovery plan for education initiatives. Check your governor’s website or try this site. 
    
4. Blog for the latest in education policy zeitgeist. Examples of well-traveled blogs include:

• Education Week “Campaign K–12”
• Education Sector “Eduwonk”
• Education Writers Association “Education Election”

5. Share your news with stakeholders. Do you have stories of children who received Reading Recovery lessons? Reading Recovery colleagues receiving recognition for their expertise and effectiveness? An innovative collaboration between Reading Recovery and other educators? These are all great reasons to write, email, call, or otherwise contact elected officials.
   
   
6. Host or meet at least one stakeholder this year (could be a parent, principal, administrator, school board member, state legislator, governor, member of congress, etc.). Whether observing Reading Recovery, attending a teacher graduation, or something else, seeing is believing! Not everyone will be able to visit Reading Recovery in person so a visit to a district office, town hall meeting, or other local gathering can be just as beneficial.
   
   
7. Send us your story! When you’ve completed and been successful in any of the areas above, send us your pictures and story about how you made a difference! See the link below for examples and how to get your results posted on this website for others to learn.
   
   
8. Contact the Reading Recovery Council of North America for ideas, information, or assistance with advocacy, or go to the Advocacy section of the RRCNA website.
    
9. Carry your camera, Flip or video recorder to document anything which happens spontaneously and send us to us at lracher@readingrecovery.org.

It's Advocacy Time Again in 2010

You can make a difference! Read how others are setting high standards in Advocacy and attaining success. Take time in 2010 to tell us how you are doing the same by sending your story and pictures to lracher@readingrecovery.org.