Advocacy 101Megan Wolfe

Government Relations Manager

April 14, 2010

NASPE AdvocacyNASPE envisions a society in which all individuals are physically educated and participate in lifelong physical activity.

NASPE AdvocacyNASPE Mission Statement:

To enhance knowledge, improve professional practice, and increase support for high quality physical

education, sport and physical activity programs.

Defining Principle:Facilitate the establishment of public

policy that supports physical education, sport, and physical

activity.

Strategic Goal: Support the development of public

policy that advances physical education, sport, and physical

activity in the U.S.

NASPE AdvocacyAdvocacy or Lobbying?

Advocate: Convey an opinionLobby: Ask for something from an elected official

Why Advocate or Lobby?To “enhance knowledge” and “disseminate

information”NASPE’s unique perspectiveUnique opportunities:

Evidence and data abound Climate is ripe for our message!

Why Advocate or Lobby?

New evidence supporting association between physical fitness levels and academic performance—CDC study

Opportunity to provide information no one else has to inform education policy

If you don’t ask, who will?The stakes are simply too high, and the potential

too great, for educators not to engage in advocacy efforts.

In other words, SPEAK Out!!

Advocacy 101—7 StepsIdentify the problemPrepare the messageUnderstand the processKnow who you are visitingThe meetingDeliver your messageFollow up

Identify the ProblemWhat, specifically, do you want to change?

Child/Youth obesitySchools not required to provide daily P.E. (SON)Fewer opportunities for P.E. & P.A.Teacher qualificationSubstitutions

How can you address it?Amend current lawWrite new lawDepartment of Education or even local school

district

Prepare Your MessageKnow your issue: why are you here

Identify NASPE—we are unique!Background/Personal anecdotes

Specific “ask”Not vague argument: cosponsor a bill/sign a

letterAllies & Enemies

What groups support your “ask”What groups do not!

Defend your position

Understand the ProcessHow does a bill become a law?

LanguageSponsorIntroduced/reported to CommitteeHearings/Mark Up/Reported outFloor voteConference Committee

Importance of CommitteesImportance of staff

Know Who You Are Visiting

Your Senator or Representative (AAHPERD LAC)PartyInterestsPositions on your issues (cosponsorship of FIT

Kids)Committee Membership, Chairman or Ranking

Minority MemberWhy should this person listen to YOU?

Offer your credentials as someone who has experience in physical education

The MeetingKnow where you are goingBe polite, on time, professional and confident

If you are running late, call to let them know:Capitol Switchboard: 202-224-3121

Treat staff members as respectfully as the Legislator

Be positive—thank the Legislator if they have already supported your issues

Provide your business cardAvoid familiarity and avoid confrontationDon’t be awed—they are all just people and are

there to serve and represent YOU as a voter!

Rep. Chaffetz and Todd PenningtonMay 7, 2009

Deliver Your MessagePractice delivering your message.If in a group, determine who will speak first, who

will make the “ask” and who will provide the leave-behinds.

Be prepared to deliver your message in 5 minutes—policy makers are very busy and meetings may get interrupted by calls for Floor votes.

Get a clear answer.Leave-behinds are key.If you don’t know the answer to a question, offer

to find it and follow up!

Follow Up!!Please return meeting report forms to NASPESend thank-you soon—email is bestCoordinate your thank you with launch of

Shape of the Nation Report online!Offer to provide additional information“Ask” again if you didn’t get a clear yes or no!Invite your legislator for a site visit, if at all

possible, when he or she returns to the state/district

Review of FoldersLegislator Folders:NASPE Leave BehindShape of the NationPEP & FIT KidsLet’s Move in SchoolPublic Policy Agenda

(NASPE facts)

Participant Folders:Left side:

everything that’s in Legislator Folders

Meeting scheduleCapitol Hill MapMeeting Report

FormCDC Study

Summary

April 15, 2010

Meetings for: Teresa Delaney * Also Attending:

11:30 AM Sen. Jeff Sessions (AL) *Casi Favre335 Russell NCI (No Committees of Interest)

Meeting w/ staff: Caroline Walker

12:00 noon Lunch—Congressional Visitor’s Center

1:00 PM Sen. Richard Shelby (D-AL) * Casi Favre304 Russell Senate Appropriations Cmte.

Meeting w/ staff: Graham Smith

2:30 PM Rep. Spencer Bachus (AL-6th) * Beth Kirkpatrick2246 Rayburn NCI

Meeting w/staff: Jennifer Pino

3:30 PM Bus Leaves Peace Circle

12

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Let’s Move In School!

PE and Academic Performance (CDC Study)

PE Attention/concentrationAchievement test scores

Recess Attention/concentration On-task behavior

Classroom PA Attention, Classroom BehaviorAchievement Test Scores

Extracurricular PA Education Aspirations

School attachment GPA

NASPE Asks: Support PE in ESEA (House—Kind bill)

Physical Education as core subjectHighly qualified PE teachersPEP Program Integrity & Funding at $100 mil.FIT Kids

Report on quality and quantity of PE in Title I report cards

Professional Development for PE teachers and others

Promoting PA in other environments (21st Century LC)

Research study

NASPE Public Policy Agenda

• Background on NASPE• NASPE Standards• Public Policy Goals• Public Policy Issues• Resources

NotesIf you have time between meetings, make use of it by

stopping in to see other offices from your state. Some extra folders in back.

If you have a 30 minute time frame between meetings, keep your meeting to 15 minutes!

Comfortable shoes!Lunch at Congressional Visitor Center—restrictive!Bus leaves at 3:30 from Peace Circle (same as drop-

off)In some cases, your cell phone number was

requested, please answer any calls that come from 703 or 202 area code.

NotesYou will NOT be provided with a

snack/breakfast for the morning, so please give yourself time in the morning for fuel.

IMPORTANT!! If you are running late, call Capitol Switchboard at 202-224-3121 and ask for your legislator’s office.

Role PlayingGroup assignments (Groups 1-6)Discuss unique arguments to help make your pointDid any new issues arise?

Four meeting components—take turns:Opening the meetingMaking the caseThe asksProviding the leave-behind(Who will complete the report form and follow up)

Role PlayingAdditional questions/issues that may arise:

General information about your school or district

The “tough” questions—be prepared!Why should PE be considered academic?Why should the federal government require

PE?What evidence do you have that PEP grants

have benefited students?

Have fun!You are important to the process!!

THANK YOU!