SECURING AND KEEPING STATE FUNDING 2007 STATE AGENCY CONFERENCE NASHVILLE, TN. State of Washington Office of Superintendent of Public Instruction

State of Washington Office of Superintendent of Public Instruction NEW FUNDING Support Champion State Education Agency Governor’s Office Legislature State Association Lobbyist State of Washington Office of Superintendent of Public Instruction

State of Washington Office of Superintendent of Public Instruction DEVELOP A PLAN Work With State Association Must have committed leaders willing to devote time Employ services of a lobbyist State Education Agency develop fiscal note State Education Agency, in cooperation with state association, develop needs statement State of Washington Office of Superintendent of Public Instruction

State of Washington Office of Superintendent of Public Instruction SELECT A LOBBYIST Selection Criteria – (State Association Responsibility) Must be familiar with state legislative process Must be familiar to key players in legislative and executive branch Must not have conflict of interest with other lobbying activities Should have proven track record Should be affordable State of Washington Office of Superintendent of Public Instruction

State of Washington Office of Superintendent of Public Instruction LOBBYIST Organize state association representative team Call meetings of team Report to association team results of meetings (conf. calls work well) Schedule meetings with key executive and legislative branch members Testify before committees if requested State of Washington Office of Superintendent of Public Instruction

State of Washington Office of Superintendent of Public Instruction SUPPORT First, look for champions Leaders in Executive and Legislative branch Chief State School Officer Governor Governor’s budget analysts Governor’s Health and Education advisors House/Senate Leaders Ways & Means/Appropriations Chairs of Health committees Chairs of Education committees State of Washington Office of Superintendent of Public Instruction

State of Washington Office of Superintendent of Public Instruction SUPPORT CON’T Rally your allies Principal associations School Administrators association PTA/PTO Other State agencies School Board member association State Dairy Council Get letters of support from these associations to forward to the Legislature and Governor’s office State of Washington Office of Superintendent of Public Instruction

State of Washington Office of Superintendent of Public Instruction CHAMPION It is extremely import that a champion in both houses (preferably on the appropriations/ways and means and education/health committees) is recruited. It is also important that these members are committed to supporting your cause. State of Washington Office of Superintendent of Public Instruction

State of Washington Office of Superintendent of Public Instruction COMMUNICATION State Association Members Meet personally with: Chief State School Officer Governor/Governor’s staff Key Legislative budget staff Key Legislative members Ways and Means/Appropriations Health/Education Provide information as requested Be prepared to say “I’ll get back to you on that one” and do it. State of Washington Office of Superintendent of Public Instruction

State of Washington Office of Superintendent of Public Instruction COMMUNICATION CON’T State Agency Role Provide assistance Fiscal note calculations Accompany lobbyist and state association members when meeting with critical parties Gather and provide reports on student population benefitting from the requested appropriation. ASSIST IN WRITING BILL LANGUAGE. If this isn’t possible, request that you get a chance to review language after it is written and before becoming law. State of Washington Office of Superintendent of Public Instruction

STATE AGENCY DO’S/DON’TS DO: provide accurate information in a timely fashion DO: testify if requested DO: support state association DON’T: express an opinion unless requested DON’T: LOBBY – provide information only when requested DON’T: speak unfavorably of any elected official State of Washington Office of Superintendent of Public Instruction

State of Washington Office of Superintendent of Public Instruction INTRODUCE A BILL? The question will come up: Do we propose legislation which will hopefully become law accompanied by the requested funding? Or, do we only want to have proviso language in the appropriations bill? THIS IS A VERY IMPORTANT DECISION THAT SHOULD BE MADE VIA CONSULTATION WITH LEGISLATIVE CHAMPIONS. State of Washington Office of Superintendent of Public Instruction

State of Washington Office of Superintendent of Public Instruction REVENUE FORECAST Favorable forecast is important If not favorable Stress importance of adequate nutrition Improved academic performance Reduced incidence in over weight/obesity Reduced future health care cost Reduced burden on state resources State of Washington Office of Superintendent of Public Instruction

Toppenish SD lunch participation = 81.7% Yakima SD lunch participation = 55.9% Wapato SD lunch participation = 75.2% 14

State of Washington Office of Superintendent of Public Instruction MAINTAIN FUNDING Once additional funding is appropriated Track results More students participating in meals programs - pre compared to post Lower absentee rates Reduced discipline problems Fewer visits to school nurse Improved attention in class Improved test scores State of Washington Office of Superintendent of Public Instruction

MAINTAIN FUNDING CON’T Once initiative has been funded, eusure that future budgets include the additional funding as “maintenance.” Maintenance budgets are much easier to perpetuate than introducing the programs specifically each year. “Maintenance” normally isn’t given much attention Be sure to include growth factor in maintenance. State of Washington Office of Superintendent of Public Instruction

State of Washington Office of Superintendent of Public Instruction CONCLUSION Never stop thanking those who helped you succeed. Provide special awards and recognition at state conferences. Send letters of thanks - FREQUENTLY IF NOT SUCCESSFUL AT FIRST, NEVER GIVE UP! State of Washington Office of Superintendent of Public Instruction