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

2. 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

3. 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

4. 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

5. 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

6. 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

7. 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

8. 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

9. 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

10. 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

11. 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

12. 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

13. 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

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

15. 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

16. 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

17. 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