LILA Follow-Up Resources
Thank you for attending ASCD's Leadership Institute for Legislative Advocacy (LILA) and helping make the conference a success!
To help you continue your advocacy efforts throughout the year, we're providing you with the following resources:
Backgrounders and talking points on key education policy issues
Templates for thank-you notes that you can send to the lawmakers and staffers you met with on Capitol Hill
A feedback form for providing ASCD staff with highlights from your Capitol Hill meetings
Conference presentations
Resources
Backgrounders (PDF)
Read background information about the Elementary and Secondary Education Act (ESEA); the Obama administration's ESEA waivers; and education funding issues, including sequestration.
Talking Points (PDF)
Learn about ASCD's legislative priorities and access talking points related to ESEA reauthorization, accountability systems, school improvement strategies, and educator effectiveness and evaluation.
2013 Legislative Agenda (PDF)
ASCD's legislative agenda outlines the organization's policy goals and vision for the coming year. This year's agenda urges Congress to immediately reauthorize ESEA and replace it with a comprehensive rewrite that includes provisions that support meaningful accountability systems, encourage comprehensive improvement strategies, and promote adequate and effective preparation and ongoing professional development for educators to improve student outcomes.
Thank-You Note Templates
We encourage you to tailor and personalize your thank-you notes based on your unique conversations with your federal lawmakers and their staffers. The thank-you note instructions provide tips for personalizing and sending your letters.
Capitol Hill Meeting Feedback
Please complete this feedback form to capture your conversations with your federal lawmakers and their staffers and to alert ASCD staff members about follow-up opportunities.
Conference Presentations
Education Politics and Policy in 2013 (PDF)
An analysis of the 2012 presidential and congressional election results and what they mean for education policy in the 113th Congress. Will ESEA reauthorization be a priority if Congress remains divided? Who are the new leaders within the Department of Education and the congressional education committees on Capitol Hill? What reform issues will rise to the top in this new environment? Each of these issues is addressed from ASCD’s perspective.
Educator Advocates Connect the Classroom to the Capitol (PDF)
Background and Talking Points (PDF)
ASCD's annual legislative agenda outlines the organization's policy goals and vision for the coming year. These policy priorities, developed by a committee of ASCD members, are a comprehensive set of federal reform recommendations to support educators, improve our schools, and benefit students. ASCD Legislative Committee members unveiled the 2013 Legislative Agenda at this session and discussed its content. With the legislative agenda as a solid foundation, participants reviewed ASCD’s 2013 legislative priorities, armed with background, talking points, messaging, and solid responses to tough questions to increase their effectiveness during their Capitol Hill meetings.
A National Education Leader Looks at How We Got Here and Where We're Headed (PDF)
Gene Wilhoit, former executive director of the Council of Chief State School Officers, led the nation’s state superintendents during a period of incredible change. He has spearheaded states’ widespread adoption and implementation of the Common Core State Standards, helped states significantly overhaul their educator evaluation systems, and supported their development of No Child Left Behind waivers while calling on Congress to reauthorize the federal education law. Wilhoit reflects on these changes and what they mean for the profession and shares his perspective on the next trends in education reform across the states.
Ask the Experts: Federal Education Funding (PDF)
Federal funding for education is at-risk at all levels because of the recession, budget shortfalls, and federal spending cuts. Joel Packer from the Committee for Education Funding provides his expert insight on the status of education funding and what to expect in 2013.
Capitol Hill Bootcamp: Making Meetings Meaningful (PDF)
Attendees learn what to do and what not to do during their legislator meetings, including how to deliver an effective elevator speech, how to handle a hostile meeting, what to do when a meeting is interrupted, and how to turn obstacles into opportunities.