How to Have Successful Hill Meetings August 2016

Capitol Hill Day: Tuesday, September 13

Scheduling Your Meetings Hill Meeting Myths Agenda Scheduling Your Meetings Hill Meeting Myths How to Maximize Your Influence Additional Advocacy Resources

Assume that your meeting will last at least 30 minutes Scheduling Your Meetings Assume that your meeting will last at least 30 minutes You should also ensure at least 15 minutes to travel between each meeting, especially if you are going from the House to the Senate or vice versa

Scheduling Your Meetings Let NASSP know your Hill meeting times via the NASSP Principal of the Year Hill Meeting Schedule Google Document: https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/1bd6k0kSQlRdhKvnkMA3BEv1mLZsLgwyEWIKjgUlBaQ0/edit?pref=2&pli=1#gid=0 Email Amanda Karhuse karhusea@nassp.org with any questions or concerns.

House side Senate side Scheduling Your Meetings -Rayburn -Russell http://www.visitthecapitol.gov/plan-visit/us-capitol-map House side Office Buildings -Rayburn -Longworth -Cannon Senate side Office Buildings -Russell -Dirksen -Hart

Hill Meeting Myths Myth #1: Practitioners’ voices like mine don’t really matter in crafting federal policy Myth #2: Meeting with a staff member is not nearly as important as meeting with my legislator

How to maximize your influence

Review NASSP materials on the Legislative Advocacy page Before Your Meeting Do some “homework” Review NASSP materials on the Legislative Advocacy page Prepare examples, personal stories and data/statistics Find background information on the legislators or staffers Prioritize your top 3 issues

Before Your Meeting Do more “homework” Find a piece of legislation, a resolution or something that the legislator has worked on in Committee that relates to the issue you are discussing (Based on your passion for ______, I thought this issue would be of particular interest to you)

Draft talking points for each issue Before Your Meeting Practice your “pitch” Draft talking points for each issue Don’t assume the legislator or staff knows the issue well Prepare your “ask” (e.g. cosponsoring a bill, supporting funding for a particular program)

Before Your Meeting Continued Keep in mind that on some days, staffers take between 5-10 meetings so think about how to be memorable Make sure you are familiar with everything in the folder as some staffers like to discuss all of the issues with you

Arrive a few minutes before your scheduled appointment time During Your Meeting Arrive a few minutes before your scheduled appointment time Introduce yourself to the staff at the front desk and tell them with whom you are meeting Give your business card to the MOC & staff

Have a conversation that allows for questions from all parties During Your Meeting Make a connection with the MOC & staff (Do they have a family member who attended your school? College? etc.) First thank them for the meeting, and then go into your first “pitch” and “ask” Have a conversation that allows for questions from all parties

During Your Meeting Try to think of specific examples of how the issue you are discussing impacts your life as a school leader (Unable to fund specific programs because of budget shortfalls, understaffed, etc.) Be prepared to answer difficult questions on the issues you are discussing; some staffers may ask very technical questions

Monitor your time and adjust accordingly to cover all of your issues During Your Meeting Monitor your time and adjust accordingly to cover all of your issues Leave the NASSP folder of materials with the MOC or staff Thank them for their time and ask if they would like any follow-up information Ask to take a picture with the legislator or staffer with whom you met

Send a thank you email that reiterates your key points and “asks” After Your Meeting Immediately after: Post photos & information about your meeting on Twitter & Facebook and use the #POY16 As soon as possible: Send a thank you email that reiterates your key points and “asks” Offer to be a resource and tell them to contact you whenever needed

Complete NASSP Hill Day Meeting Report After Your Meeting In the next few days: Share your experience & photos with your local media and school community Reach out to the district or state office and invite the MOC or staff to visit your school Complete NASSP Hill Day Meeting Report

Principals Institute Materials Advocacy Resources NASSP Website www.nassp.org/legislative-advocacy Principals Institute Materials https://www.nassp.org/recognition/principal-of-the-year/poy-materials/poy-materials?SSO=true School of Thought Blog http://blog.nassp.org/

Principal’s Legislative Action Center (PLAC) www.nassp.org/PLAC Advocacy Resources Principal’s Legislative Action Center (PLAC) www.nassp.org/PLAC Twitter @NASSP @akarhuse @dnchodak #POY16 Congress www.house.gov, www.senate.gov, and www.congress.gov/

Federal Grassroots Network Advocacy Resources Federal Grassroots Network Commit to regularly meeting with your member of Congress & staff Stay informed by receiving the monthly FGN newsletter Participate in future trainings and 2017 advocacy conference http://www.nassp.org/Legislative-Advocacy/Get-Involved/NASSP-Federal-Grassroots-Network

NASSP Director of Advocacy karhusea@nassp.org 703-860-7241 Contact Information Amanda Karhuse NASSP Director of Advocacy karhusea@nassp.org 703-860-7241 David Chodak NASSP Associate Director of Advocacy chodakd@nassp.org 703-860-7338

THANK YOU! DISCUSSION Comments & Questions