March 2024: AESA State Examiner

In the realm of education advocacy, one of the most impactful tools at your disposal is the legislative office visit. These visits provide a crucial opportunity for educators and education advocates to directly engage with policymakers and legislative staff, advocate for their positions on education policy and funding, and ultimately influence decision-making processes. However, mastering the art of the legislative office visit requires more than just showing up – it demands strategic planning, effective communication, and confidence in making the “ask.” This month’s advocacy tip focuses on making your visit to the statehouse an impactful and successful experience.

 Effective Advocacy Tips:  Mastering the Office Visit

In his 27 Fundamentals for More Effective State Government Affairs, author Robert Guyer says, your threshold question for each meeting with a lawmaker is, “Why would this lawmaker give me his or her vote? How does what I’m asking for advance their interests as well?” Until you can answer that fundamental question, Guyer states, you are not likely to get the vote.

While maybe a bit hyperbolic, this is an important word of caution to education advocates and would-be lobbyists.  It demonstrates the importance of being prepared when you visit the state capital to make your case and reiterates a central component to effective advocacy:  appeal to your audiences’ own self-interests.

In this month’s State Examiner, we explore key strategies and tactics that educators can utilize to maximize the impact of their legislative office visits.

Research and Preparation: Know your audience. Before scheduling a legislative office visit, take the time to research the policymaker's background, including their stance on education issues, voting record, and any relevant committees they serve on. This knowledge will help tailor your talking points and demonstrate that you've done your homework. Important in this step is also understanding any opposition positions and being prepared to address those positions.

Craft Your Message: Develop a clear and concise message that highlights the importance of your cause and its impact on students, teachers, and the community. Focus on key talking points that align with the policymaker's priorities and frame your message in a way that resonates with their values and constituents.

As educational service agencies, it is possible to share your story, on the merits, in two very different ways.  For example, when discussing direct student services with legislators on the more progressive end of the political spectrum one might focus more on what services their agency delivers and how they impact the education of preschoolers, students with disabilities, incarcerated youth and other high-risk student populations to improve outcomes.  While more conservative policymakers may be interested in how you deliver the services through itinerant staff or other shared service delivery models that demonstrate efficiency and cost-savings along with greater accountability for improved outcomes. Again, sharing the same story in different ways that appeal to the particular audience you are seeking to influence can boost your success rate.

Build Relationships: Building relationships with policymakers and their staff is essential for long-term advocacy success. Take the time to introduce yourself, establish rapport, and express your willingness to serve as a resource on education issues. Personal connections can often be the difference-maker in gaining support for your cause. Never underestimate the influence of legislative staff.  While they may not always be able to advance your cause directly – as they don’t have power to cast a vote – they do have the power to deny access to policymakers you are trying to influence. Last, and most importantly, remember that the best time to build relationships and lobby is when you don’t need anything.

Be Solution-Oriented: Instead of simply presenting problems, offer constructive solutions that address the challenges facing education. Present data, research, and best practices to support your recommendations and demonstrate credibility. Legislators are people too. They do not want to get beat up in every meeting. When you have concerns provide solutions. When you are at an impasse, seek compromise. When compromise cannot be reached, remember that policy making is incremental and there will be other opportunities down the road to advance your priorities.

Bring Personal Stories: Humanize your message by sharing personal anecdotes and stories that illustrate the real-world impact of education policies and funding decisions. Stories have a powerful emotional appeal and can help policymakers connect on a personal level with the issues you're advocating for.

Practice Effective Communication: Practice delivering your message with confidence and clarity. Be prepared to articulate your points succinctly and respond to questions or objections thoughtfully. Remember to listen actively and engage in two-way dialogue with the policymaker to foster understanding and collaboration. This is where having done your research in advance can be most effective. One exercise to help here is mastering the elevator speech.  Elevator speeches can vary greatly, depending on the goal, audience, and circumstances but they should all contain the following elements:

• Pertinent Facts—The five W’s: who, what, where, when, why (and how);
• Less is More - Provide enough information to engage your listeners in conversation;
• Differentiation—What makes your issue compelling or unique;
• Impact—Statistics and stories that show results;
• Simplicity—Jargon-free language that anyone can understand;
• Passion—Show that you care about what you’re pitching;
• Flexibility—Use a framework but adjust your speech to your audience;
• Preparation—Practice your speech and ask for feedback;
• Buyer-Driven - Focus on what THEY want or get when they work with you; the benefits and value to what they care about and their district constituents.

Make the Ask: Don't shy away from making a specific ask or request during your legislative office visit. Whether it's advocating for increased funding, supporting a particular piece of legislation, or taking action on a specific issue, clearly articulate what you're asking the policymaker to do and why it matters. Get past “nice” to get lawmakers’ votes. A lawmaker’s being nice isn’t a vote. Do not ever leave a visit without knowing exactly where that legislator is on your issue.  It is important to know if they are for you, against you, or neutral. Ideally, you want to convert your cynics.  But, at a minimum, silence their concerns.  In the end, effective advocacy is increasing the number of decisions makers that are knowledgeable about your organization and policy concerns and have positive feelings about the idea.

Follow-Up: After the meeting, send a thank-you note expressing your appreciation for the opportunity to meet and reiterating your key messages. Stay engaged with the policymaker's office by providing updates, offering additional information or resources, and continuing to build the relationship over time. When possible, get decision makers to visit your programs and experience the impact of your services firsthand.

It is critical to remember that while professional associations and lobbyists play a critical role in supporting your efforts, don’t outsource your advocacy.  Be engaged.  Nobody cares about your issue as much as you do. Neither money nor the best contractors can win your battles for you. If you don’t make it happen, then it won’t.

By mastering the legislative office visit and effectively "making the ask," educators can amplify their voices, shape education policy, and advocate for the resources and support needed to ensure all students have access to a high-quality education. With careful planning, strategic communication, and a commitment to building relationships, educators can make a meaningful difference in the lives of students and communities across the country.