The Advocacy Toolbox

Use the tools and resources on this page in order to learn about the current issues facing Colorado K-12 education. If you have questions about the CASB Advocacy Team, please contact Matt Cook, director of public policy and advocacy.

• Key Legislators' District Documents
• Bill Trackers and Information
• How to Speak to Policymakers
• Sample Meeting Agendas
• Advocacy Lobbying at the Federal Level – Ensure the Local Voice is Heard

Key Legislator's District Documents

School board members advocate for local schools by working with their legislators and it is important that members take time to know their legislators and gain the ability to share the challenges and successes their teachers and students face on a daily basis. Invite legislators to visit local schools to see first-hand how state policies affect students, teachers, and administrators. As fellow elected officials, board members bring expertise and knowledge about education in their community to their legislators.

CASB has Key Legislator documents for every school district that highlight the policymakers who represent local constituents. This directory houses all the documents.

Key Legislators by District

Bill trackers and information

This interactive graphic provides an additional tool for school board members to keep current on bills, their status, sponsor information, and a direct link to the Colorado General Assembly page to have the most current information available.

This graphic is based on the Bill Tracker document that is only available to CASB members through login. This interactive graphic is a public document on the CASB website.

Interactive Bill Graphic

Bill Tracker link (member-only resources)

How to Speak to Policymakers

How to Speak to Policymakers PDF

Sample Meeting Agenda

Below is a sample meeting agenda and policy talking points to help you think through the framework of your meetings with your Senator(s) or Representative(s) and/or their staff members. If more than one person attends, think about who will chair the meeting and who will cover each agenda item. Use the sample meeting agenda to help plan for the meeting. 

MEETING AGENDA

1. Introductions (BRIEF)
2. Thank the Senator / Representative for something
3. Purpose of the meeting
4. Tell local stories of personal and community-wide success 
5. Describe how this policy issue will impact the district’s students and the community
6. Make a SPECIFIC ask
7. Response from Member/Staff 
8. Closing

Meeting agenda planning document

Advocacy Lobbying at the Federal Level – Ensure the Local Voice is Heard

Washington, D.C. may be 1,500 miles away, but it’s still important for Colorado’s members of Congress to hear from you, the local voice of the community. With rulemaking and regulations being decided on for the Every Student Succeeds Act (ESSA) and the re-authorization of the Carl D. Perkins Career and Technical Education (CTE), the decisions made on Capitol Hill will have big impacts on Colorado classrooms. Stay in touch with the Colorado Congressional Delegation using these resources.

The following toolkit focuses on lobbying from the local level to the federal level.

Lay the Foundation

Both CASB and the National School Board Association (NSBA) have useful resources for becoming well-versed on federal education issues.

• Quick Reference Guide on Federal Education Issues - CASB’s guide to federal education issues.
• NSBA's Advocacy web page – contains up-to-date information, including summaries of issues, arguments for and against federal legislation and background materials.

Get to Work

The best way to impact Colorado’s Congressional delegation on education issues is to have regular meaningful interaction with members of Congress while they are at home in your district. Become knowledgeable on federal education issues, share your knowledge with other school board members and educate your Congressional representatives about the unique aspects of your school district and region.

To help you get started, use the following documents as a guide to lobbying Congress:

• A sample action plan to help guide your lobbying efforts;
• An annual calendar, showing the dates Congress is on break;
• Contact information for Colorado Representatives in the House;
• Contact information Colorado Senators