Jane E. West Ph.D. Vice President for Government Relations and Government Affairs AACTE

Education Policy: What’s at Stake?The Ohio Confederation of Teacher Education Organizations April 2, 2008Columbus, Ohio Jane E. West Ph.D. Vice President for Government Relations and Government Affairs AACTE jwest@aacte.org

What is happening in Washington? • Why is advocacy important? • A recipe for political action.

Budget and Appropriations • President submitted his budget – requested $59.2 billion for education – a $2.07 billion cut for discretionary funding. • Senate budget resolution passed with a party line vote of 51-44 adding $5.4 billion for education from Bush’s request and sets Function 500 spending at $94 billion – rejects President’s request to eliminate 48 education programs • House budget resolution includes $95 billion for Function 500

Budget and Appropriations…cont. • Targeted programs that will likely receive increases include: NCLB, IDEA, Pell grants • Resolutions passed to increase funding for America Competes Act: Bush requested $790.41 million; House would add $379 million; Senate would add $600 million

Budget and Appropriations...cont. • House and Senate must conference and agree on budget resolution • May 15 – appropriators can begin to act • Election year politics likely to push this over to next year • OUR FOCUS: Funding for Title II HEA – Dear Colleague letter, need to hear your voice

No Child Left Behind • Rep. Miller draft bill killed last year over multiple measures and merit pay • Senate continues to talk about introducing a reauthorization bill this spring • Sen. Obama and Sen. Clinton on Senate HELP committee • Sec. Spellings unveils initiative for pilots that will differentiate accountability • Shift as the Bush Administration wanes

Higher Education Act • TEACH Grants: money will flow July 1 • Up to $16 K per undergraduates in shortage fields • Up to $8 k for Masters degree in shortage fields • Service obligation for 4 years within 8 year period or grant converts to loan • AACTE will host webinar on TEACH grants • 2 hour session at Day on the Hill June 18, 19

HEA….cont. • In conference now – likely to become law this spring • Title II: three programs merged into one partnership program • Focus on mentoring/induction/residency programs • Pass rates: scores for students who have completed 100% non clinical course work

HEA…..cont. • Faculty priority in Graduate Assistance in Areas of National Need • Teach for America authorized in both bills

Ongoing Accountability Discussion • Teacher Development Provisions • Differences in Accountability conversations in HEA and K – 12 • Data: an essential component

Data for Teacher Preparation Programs `(c) Release of Information to Teacher Preparation Programs- `(1) IN GENERAL- For the purpose of improving teacher preparation programs, a State educational agency that receives funds under this Act, or that participates as a member of a partnership, consortium, or other entity that receives such funds, shall provide to a teacher preparation program, upon the request of the teacher preparation program, any and all pertinent education-related information that-- `(A) may enable the teacher preparation program to evaluate the effectiveness of the program's graduates or the program itself; and `(B) is possessed, controlled, or accessible by the State educational agency. `(2) CONTENT OF INFORMATION- The information described in paragraph (1)--

Data for Teacher Preparation Programs…cont. `(A) shall include an identification of specific individuals who graduated from the teacher preparation program to enable the teacher preparation program to evaluate the information provided to the program from the State educational agency with the program's own data about the specific courses taken by, and field experiences of, the individual graduates; and `(B) may include-- `(i) kindergarten through grade 12 academic achievement and demographic data, without revealing personally identifiable information about an individual student, for students who have been taught by graduates of the teacher preparation program; and `(ii) teacher effectiveness evaluations for teachers who graduated from the teacher preparation program.

Why advocacy matters Higher Education Legislative World World

Why should I care? • Education policy has a direct effect on what you do as teacher educators and on the profession of teaching. • When you are silent, the voices of others grow louder. • Policy can be destructive and do damage or it can be positive and enhance teaching and learning.

What difference can one person make? • One person is responsible for $25 million program for parents • An informed constituent who is an effective advocate can influence the opinion of a legislator

A recipe for Political Action • Target Your Audience • Decision makers in executive branch • Decision makers in legislative branch • Opinion makers

A Recipe for Political Action • Craft your message • Schools of education are part of the solution • Bust the myths • Usable materials – bite-sized and skim-able • Make it personal • Provide data

A Recipe for Political Action • Deliver your message • Third party endorsements • Your students and your graduates • Parents of the children your graduates teach • Superintendents who hire your graduates • Constituents of elected officials • Volume counts • Timing is everything • Repetition counts

A Recipe for Political Action • Make specific requests • What will be lost without your request? • Something that is do-able • Win-win

A Recipe for Political Action • Develop relationships • Become a trusted resource-provide assistance • Do your homework • Have them teach a class • Visit your campus (TFA) • Visit them every time you are in DC or when they are home • Staff change often so keep it up • Give awards

A Recipe for Political Action • Hold them accountable • I heard the remark you made and I’d like to follow up • I understand you voted against……..this is why it matters

A Recipe for Political Action • Know what other stakeholders are doing • Find common ground • Form coalitions • Know the opposition

A Recipe for Political Action • Look for reasons to stay in touch • Squeaky wheel gets the grease • Persistence matters • Send press clippings and good news about your program

A Recipe for Political Action • Come to AACTE’s Day on the Hill from June 18-19, 2008 • Meet with your Congressional delegation • Learn about their concerns • Share the successes of your programs • Bring your teacher candidates, your K-12 partners

A Recipe for Political Action • Make advocacy part of your job • Decisions will be made with or without you • Public policy has a profound effect on all aspects of education • Prepare educators in your programs to be good advocates

Create an Ohio Day on the Hill • What will work in Ohio? • Timing • Allies • Message • Goal • Activities

Remember……………. • If you’re not at the table, you’re probably on the menu.

Jane E. West Ph.D. Vice President for Government Relations and Government Affairs AACTE