Advocacy: What You Don’t Know Can Hurt You

1. Advocacy: What You Don’t Know Can Hurt You Ensuring Equal Access to MusicEducation K-12 Presenter: Carol Reitz October, 2014

2. Objective Attendees will decide to set up a music coalition in their district

3. Our Agenda • What is a coalition? • Boosters vs a Coalition • 8 strategic errors to avoid • Snoqualmie Valley SD Coalition-Share results • Resources

4. Coalition vs Booster Groups Boosters: Specific group/building, fundraising, advocates at the local level Coalition: Student centered, parent lead, K-12. Educate, promote and inform; not program or site specific; student impact is the focus

5. What does a coalition do? Assumption: We can’t take for granted current support for music education – we need to stay visible and make the case for being in the curriculum

6. John Benham(Music Advocacy: From Survival to Vision) “A coalition is the most effective way to insure that your school district provides equal educational opportunities for all students to participate in the making of music.”

7. Discuss with the person next to you . . . What are the challenges or threats to music education you see in the next 3-5 years?

8. What does a coalition do? • Helps address: • Perception of music as non-core • Belief that cutting music saves money • Emphasis on state testing • Lack of district coordination • Reduces major crises • Keeps student at center

9. Who is a member? Anyone: Teachers, parents, administrators, students, principals, community members, music vendors

10. Eight Strategic Errors to Avoid #1 DON’T: Limit the scope to one school, curricular component or single year

11. Eight Strategic Errors to Avoid DON’T: Limit the scope to one school, curricular component or single year Principle #1: Include all music components, all schools and be in it for the long-haul

12. Eight Strategic Errors to Avoid #2 DON’T: Limit the organization to fund-raising activities

13. Eight Strategic Errors to Avoid DON’T: Limit the organization to fund-raising activities Principle #2: Focus on education, information sharing and marketing – doesn’t require money

14. Eight Strategic Errors to Avoid #3 DON’T: Limit advocacy activities to music teachers or control by music teachers

15. Eight Strategic Errors to Avoid DON’T: Limit advocacy activities to music teachers or control by music teachers Principle #3: Encourage parents to be spokespersons, writers, data collectors

16. Eight Strategic Errors to Avoid #4 DON’T: Limit advocacy efforts to reactive strategies

17. Eight Strategic Errors to Avoid DON’T: Limit advocacy efforts to reactive strategies Principle #4: Be Proactive Get your coalition in place before you have a major crises-puts you in control

18. Eight Strategic Errors to Avoid #5 DON’T: Procrastinate

19. Eight Strategic Errors to Avoid DON’T: Procrastinate Principle #5: Make the decision today that this is a priority—more enjoyable

20. Eight Strategic Errors to Avoid #6 DON’T: Suggest alternative cuts or compromises

21. Eight Strategic Errors to Avoid DON’T: Suggest alternative cuts or compromises Principle #6: Talk in terms of Impact statements: students

22. Eight Strategic Errors to Avoid #7 DON’T: Become involved in a battle of music vs. athletics

23. Eight Strategic Errors to Avoid DON’T: Become involved in a battle of music vs. athletics Principle #7: Support the importance of both. Also, point out the curricular versus extra-curriculardifference

24. Eight Strategic Errors to Avoid #8 - DON’T: Resort to personal attacks

25. Eight Strategic Errors to Avoid DON’T: Resort to personal attacks Principle #8: Stay calm, use data, focus on impact statements. Maintain the relationship.

26. THE STATE OF MUSIC ANNUAL REPORT • The centerpiece of your work • Marketing • Gets everyone involved • Positive way to get on the School Board/Administrator radar

27. TAKING ACTION Determine your mission statement Find key people Create the Annual Report, Educate and Communicate

28. THE STATE OF MUSIC ANNUAL REPORT: Role of the Teachers • Solidarity • Understand the principles • Determine the content of the report – 2 to 3 items • Provide the data in a timely basis • Review and refine report The greatest detriment to the advancement of music education is often the disunity of our own profession

29. THE STATE OF MUSIC ANNUAL REPORT: Role of Parents • Unity • Understand principles • Gather and summarize data • Write the cover letter, summary and report • Provide the report to teachers for review – this is their data • Make the presentation

30. THE STATE OF MUSIC ANNUAL REPORT: Role of Parents • What would be desirable characteristics of parental leadership in your coalition? • Spokesperson, data collector, social media, writer

31. THE STATE OF MUSIC ANNUAL REPORT: Goal • Current state of music education in your district • Highlight success • Educate about the Coalition

32. THE STATE OF MUSIC ANNUAL REPORT: Content (page 3 of your hand-out) Faculty Curriculum Student Participation Economics

33. Question:What might be a benefit of presenting an annual report to the school administration?

34. SNOQUALMIE VALLEY SD One High School – Mount Si/One Alternative HS 5,500 students 2 middle schools/ 5 elementary schools Fall City, Snoqualmie, North Bend Superintendent, Asst. Superintendent 5 elected board members 14 music teachers – general music, band, choir

35. SNOQUALMIE VALLEY SD ANNUAL REPORTS 2010-11: Principles of the coalition 3-year history (K-5, 6-8 and 9-12) List of all performances K-12 high-lighting achievements and awards 2011-12: 4-year history; Music Teacher bios Attrition rate (Middle to HS transition) Compiled press releases in our 2 local newspapers 2012-13: Continue head-count, Attrition Survey, concerns 2013-14: Continue head-count, Attrition survey improvements, Strategic Plan request

36. Outcomes/Results: • Greater awareness of challenges and issues facing music teachers/students by school board, administration • Awareness of accomplishments • Awareness of the interest level and growth • Get invited to participate in • Hiring decisions • Programming • Met with the 3-person Curriculum District staff to discuss the strategic plan process. • Better music teacher cohesiveness • Increased student participation – direct results of working on attrition rate between MS/HS • Greater community awareness/support

37. THE STATE OF MUSIC ANNUAL REPORT: Remember • High level summary • No expectations for the first one • Simple, pictures, avoid jargon • Keep it positive • Express appreciation

38. THE STATE OF MUSIC ANNUAL REPORT: Remember • Chain of command-no surprises! • Respect district protocol • Keep presentation brief – allow review of documents before the meeting

39. THE STATE OF MUSIC ANNUAL REPORT: Remember You’ve done a good job when: Administrators come to the coalition before making decisions to determine the impact on students.

40. COMMUNICATION • Have someone from your coalition attend every school board meeting to report on significant decisions, issues • Get to know the individuals on the board Remember: “The decision belongs to those who show up!” Dr. Dennis R. Morrow, Superintendent

41. COMMUNICATION • Facebook Page • Educate about the coalition • Market your programs • Educate about benefits of being in music • Notify people of the presentation • Collect “Likes”

42. RESOURCES SVSD Music Coalition (Facebook) SVSDmusicCoalition.org WMEA.org Carol Reitz (carolreitz@msn.com) Matt Wenman mwenman@gmail.com)

43. RESOURCES Credit John Benham and his book Music Advocacy Read his book; share successes with him JBenham@save-music.org