Indiana Non-Public Education Association Legislative Liaisons Orientation & Training January 10, 2011

INPEA Who we are Who we serve Our focus

Why Legislative Liaisons? Building an Infrastructure Raising our Voice Engaging and Mobilizing Private School Communities

Engaging in Public Policy Advancing our Mission Protecting our Independence Advocating for School Choice Engaging in State Legislation and Regulation Process Providing a face and voice for Non- public schools and issues in Indiana

LL: Roles and Responsibilities Work with School Administration on Public Policy Issues Engage your local school community in public policy issues Communicate INPEA public policy issues/alerts to your school community (parents & faculty & staff)

LL: Roles and Responsibilities Help educate your parent community about particular public policy issues When necessary help to organize local rallies or informational events Share the private school perspective on issues with your elected representatives or public school representatives (write/call/attend hearings) and encourage others to do the same.

Liaison Goals – 2011 Could be a historic year in Indiana!!!!! Increase number of schools with Liaisons (one in every school) Improve liaison communications with their school communities –Are you getting information out to your parents? Increase parent response to their elected representatives –Are your parents contacting their representatives? Submit School Legislative Communication Plan Work with School Choice Field Reps. Must raise level of engagement this year!!!!!!

Scholarship Tax Credits Passed in % State Tax Credit –Incentive to increase private giving Program Cap – 2.5 million (5 million in scholarships) Only Available to “new students” who meet financial eligibility guidelines Scholarship Granting Organizations (SGOs) –Currently 4 approved Evansville area, FWSB area, greater Marion County, Lafayette/North Central area (DOE Website)

2011 could be Historic! Impact of November elections Education Reform Agenda –Governor’s Educational options package Including “Choice State Scholarship Program” National School Choice Week School Choice Regional Directors (grassroots) Marketing Campaign Local and National Funders

National School Choice Week January State and Local Activities Regional Gatherings –“Waiting for Superman” in Indy (copies to be available soon) –Informational Rallies (with Tony Bennett) –Work with field reps. Statehouse Visits begin (ongoing visible presence) Write your Representatives about supporting school choice Encourage Schools/Teachers to explore the topic of School Choice with students

Choice Scholarship Program “Anticipated” Legislation Specifics are fluid until a bill is passed in both houses and signed by the Governor More initial specifics will be available when the actual bill (s) are introduced HUGE Grassroots effort will be necessary to pass legislation!

Choice Scholarship Program Provides a percentage of State tuition support to eligible students wishing to enroll in a non-public school by transferring from a public school or entering at (the kindergarten level). Fiscal Amount of tuition support would be on a sliding scale based on a new student’s financial eligibility School must be accredited and take ISTEP or ECA. Should not subject schools to additional regulations. Private School Participation is voluntary

Choice Scholarship Program - Accountability Private Schools being rated D or F in the State’s Accountability system could lose their ability to participate in the program. Student count reporting and some limited financial reporting are expected to be required.

School Choice Messaging Pointers  School Choice is not about private schools; it’s about families and children and giving them opportunities to be successful.  School Choice will not destroy public schools. In states with active school choice programs, public schools have improved.  Private Schools that participate in school choice programs will not lose their autonomy.  School Choice Programs can save the State money.

Other Legislative or Regulatory Issues Reducing/Controlling non-public school regulations Improve access to state special education services Accreditation reciprocity Watching other legislation/rule and its impact on non-pubs

Next Steps Meet with your School Head about engaging your school community in public policy –Communicating to parents about the importance of public policy engagement and the potential historic impact in 2011! –Develop a plan for improving communications to parents, educating them on the issues and to increase their responses to elected representatives (submit to INPEA) –Discuss plans for National School Choice Week

Next Steps Continued –Engage School community in local, regional and state events Participate in Statehouse Visits Work with INPEA and Choice Regional Field Reps on finding folks to write letters to the editor and to attend “third house” events Call and write your elected reps and encourage your entire school community to do the same! Develop plans to encourage members of your school community to attend the School Choice Rally on March 30 th at the Statehouse Watch for updates and alerts from INPEA

Web sites INPEA School Choice Indiana Friedman Foundation Indiana School Choice Initiative Indiana General Assembly

INPEA Indiana Non-Public Education Association John Elcesser Executive Director 1400 N. Meridian St. Indianapolis, IN