Parent Advocacy & Mobilization Workshop M INNEAPOLIS, M INNESOTA S OUTH H IGH S CHOOL N OVEMBER 15, 2014

Agenda 2 Introduction What is Advocacy? Learning How to Mobilize Mobilization in Action

Improving education. Empowering Parents. Parent advocacy guide Advocacy Workshops Free legal clinics Internet Resources 3 *This is helpful information, not legal advice. We try to be accurate, but rules can change.

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5 But obstacles can be overcome! Social movements started by parents: School desegregation Individuals with Disabilities Education Act

Active participation in your child’s education is worth six months of school. Help your child succeed! 6 Children of engaged parents are able to achieve at ½ a grade higher than children of less engaged parents. Why should you advocate for your child’s education?

Standing up for someone else Speaking up for others Helping someone achieve goals Acting in support of a cause Working assertively for a goal 7 WHAT IS ADVOCACY?

8 Watch this video for some helpful advocacy tips!video

Advocacy Skills Communication Conflict Resolution Advocacy Basics Get Educated Get Prepared Get Support Advocacy Basics & Skills 9 This will help you make informed, strong decisions!

Get Educated Know the rules of the local school district The formal laws Your goals Important decision makers

11 Get Prepared & Organized Keep a contact log Keep track of who you talk to Write down name, number, , reason, and date of each conversation whether by phone, or in person Get it in writing Keep ALL documents Write down key points of conversations Request for everything in writing

Get Support Find: parents groups, networks, organizations, existing community efforts This will increase your chances of success! 12

13 Communication & Conflict Resolution Participate Prepare Know what you want Be strong. Be respectful Ask questions Manage Conflict Channel emotions Do not be shut out Be the bigger person Say thank you

Individual Group Social 14 Types of Advocacy

Single Family Short-term issue Personal solution 15 Individual Advocacy Let’s practice.

Local Issue Multiple Families Long-term Action 16 Group Advocacy

Sometimes it works …Sometimes it doesn’t … 17 Group Advocacy Mobilization Examples

Systemic Issue Many participants Organized action 18 Social Advocacy Let’s mobilize from the grassroots!mobilize

Are You Ready To Become a Parent Advocate? 19 TIME TO GET MOBILIZED!

20 Mobilizing Advocacy

21 Steps to Mobilizing Advocacy Step 1: Know the need Step 2: Create an Advocacy Plan Step 3: Act and Contact Step 4: Evaluate

Minnesota’s “Achievement Gap” Mobilization In Action Knowing the Need– Finding and Using Data

Recognize systemic problems 23 Mobilization In Action

Mobilizing Advocacy 1. Find a Purpose 2. Focus the Target 3. Learn the Rules 4. Find Supporters 5. Determine Barriers 24 Step 1: Know the need

1.Prepare 2.Find solutions 3.Plan Action Steps 4.Divide time and tasks Mobilizing Advocacy 25 Step 2: Create an Advocacy Plan

Minneapolis Public Schools Data

Presented by PREP, a Lawyers' Committee project 27

Minneapolis Public Schools Data

1.Find solutions 2.Plan Action Steps 3.Divide time and tasks Mobilizing Advocacy 29 Step 2: Create an Advocacy Plan

30 Creating an Action Plan: Possible Solutions Are there any examples of similar advocacy efforts? What are the city, district, and state doing? Is the best solution at the school, district, or state level? Can we partner with other organizations for greater success?

Minneapolis’s Action Plan:

Presented by PREP, a Lawyers' Committee project 32

Creating an Action Plan: Possible Solutions 34 These plans could help, but we need advocates to make sure that the school district is achieving its goals. Are we closing the achievement gap? Are students of each race advancing? Do students feel more supported? Have we seen plans like this before?

1. Preparation 2. Contact 3. Follow through 4. Encouragement Mobilizing Advocacy 35 Step 3: Act and Contact

Presented by PREP, a Lawyers' Committee project 36 Who Should I Contact, and How? Things to Consider: How quickly does this problem need to be solved? Can this issue be handled at the local school level? Is this a larger concern that the “big players” in the school system need to handle?

1. Preparation 2. Contact 3. Follow through 4. Encouragement Mobilizing Advocacy 37 Step 3: Act and Contact

1.Define success 2.Measure the right things 3.Keep records 4.Change the Action Plan Mobilizing Advocacy 38 Step 4: Evaluate

Careful! Make sure you have the right numbers. Also, focusing on numbers may ignore real solutions. It’s not all systemic. It’s not all negative. 39

Parent Advocacy is Powerful 40 Give your child the best education possible.

Mobilization Meetings Meet in Small Groups Discuss Advocacy Options Make Connections Write Down Action Steps 41