Advocacy 101 Megan Wolfe Government Relations Manager April 14, 2010

2. Advocacy 101 Megan Wolfe Government Relations Manager April 14, 2010

3. NASPE Advocacy NASPE envisions a society in which all individuals are physically educated and participate in lifelong physical activity.

4. NASPE Advocacy NASPE Mission Statement: To enhance knowledge, improve professional practice, and increase support for high quality physical education, sport and physical activity programs.

5. NASPE’s Strategic Plan Defining Principle: Facilitate the establishment of public policy that supports physical education, sport, and physical activity. Strategic Goal: Support the development of public policy that advances physical education, sport, and physical activity in the U.S.

6. NASPE Advocacy • Advocacy or Lobbying? Advocate: Convey an opinion Lobby: Ask for something from an elected official • Why Advocate or Lobby? • To “enhance knowledge” and “disseminate information” • NASPE’s unique perspective • Unique opportunities: • Evidence and data abound • Climate is ripe for our message!

7. Why Advocate or Lobby? • New evidence supporting association between physical fitness levels and academic performance—CDC study • Opportunity to provide information no one else has to inform education policy • If you don’t ask, who will? • The stakes are simply too high, and the potential too great, for educators not to engage in advocacy efforts. In other words, SPEAK Out!!

8. Advocacy 101—7 Steps • Identify the problem • Prepare the message • Understand the process • Know who you are visiting • The meeting • Deliver your message • Follow up

9. Identify the Problem • What, specifically, do you want to change? • Child/Youth obesity • Schools not required to provide daily P.E. (SON) • Fewer opportunities for P.E. & P.A. • Teacher qualification • Substitutions • How can you address it? • Amend current law • Write new law • Department of Education or even local school district

10. Prepare Your Message • Know your issue: why are you here • Identify NASPE—we are unique! • Background/Personal anecdotes • Specific “ask” • Not vague argument: cosponsor a bill/sign a letter • Allies & Enemies • What groups support your “ask” • What groups do not! • Defend your position

11. Understand the Process • How does a bill become a law? • Language • Sponsor • Introduced/reported to Committee • Hearings/Mark Up/Reported out • Floor vote • Conference Committee • Importance of Committees • Importance of staff

12. Know Who You Are Visiting • Your Senator or Representative (AAHPERD LAC) • Party • Interests • Positions on your issues (cosponsorship of FIT Kids) • Committee Membership, Chairman or Ranking Minority Member • Why should this person listen to YOU? • Offer your credentials as someone who has experience in physical education

13. The Meeting • Know where you are going • Be polite, on time, professional and confident • If you are running late, call to let them know: Capitol Switchboard: 202-224-3121 • Treat staff members as respectfully as the Legislator • Be positive—thank the Legislator if they have already supported your issues • Provide your business card • Avoid familiarity and avoid confrontation • Don’t be awed—they are all just people and are there to serve and represent YOU as a voter!

14. Rep. Chaffetz and Todd PenningtonMay 7, 2009

15. Deliver Your Message • Practice delivering your message. • If in a group, determine who will speak first, who will make the “ask” and who will provide the leave-behinds. • Be prepared to deliver your message in 5 minutes—policy makers are very busy and meetings may get interrupted by calls for Floor votes. • Get a clear answer. • Leave-behinds are key. • If you don’t know the answer to a question, offer to find it and follow up!

16. Follow Up!! • Please return meeting report forms to NASPE • Send thank-you soon—email is best • Coordinate your thank you with launch of Shape of the Nation Report online! • Offer to provide additional information • “Ask” again if you didn’t get a clear yes or no! • Invite your legislator for a site visit, if at all possible, when he or she returns to the state/district

17. Review of Folders Legislator Folders: • NASPE Leave Behind • Shape of the Nation • PEP & FIT Kids • Let’s Move in School • Public Policy Agenda (NASPE facts) Participant Folders: • Left side: everything that’s in Legislator Folders • Meeting schedule • Capitol Hill Map • Meeting Report Form • CDC Study Summary

18. April 15, 2010 Meetings for: Teresa Delaney * Also Attending: 11:30 AM Sen. Jeff Sessions (AL) * Casi Favre 335 Russell NCI (No Committees of Interest) Meeting w/ staff: Caroline Walker 12:00 noon Lunch—Congressional Visitor’s Center 1:00 PM Sen. Richard Shelby (D-AL) * Casi Favre 304 Russell Senate Appropriations Cmte. Meeting w/ staff: Graham Smith 2:30 PM Rep. Spencer Bachus (AL-6th) * Beth Kirkpatrick 2246 Rayburn NCI Meeting w/staff: Jennifer Pino 3:30 PM Bus Leaves Peace Circle

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20. Let’s Move In School! • Physical Activity Guidelines—60 mpd • Children spend almost 30% (7 hours per day) of their time in school. • IOM—30 of 60 provided by schools • NASPE recommends 150/225 • Schools not providing daily PE (Shape of the Nation) • BUT--Schools are positioned to provide PE and PA throughout the school day. • So…….

21. PE and Academic Performance (CDC Study) PE Attention/concentration Achievement test scores Recess Attention/concentration On-task behavior Classroom PA Attention, Classroom Behavior Achievement Test Scores Extracurricular PA Education Aspirations School attachment GPA

22. NASPE Asks: Support PE in ESEA (House—Kind bill) • Physical Education as core subject • Highly qualified PE teachers • PEP Program Integrity & Funding at $100 mil. • FIT Kids • Report on quality and quantity of PE in Title I report cards • Professional Development for PE teachers and others • Promoting PA in other environments (21st Century LC) • Research study

23. NASPE Public Policy Agenda • Background on NASPE • NASPE Standards • Public Policy Goals • Public Policy Issues • Resources

24. Notes • If you have time between meetings, make use of it by stopping in to see other offices from your state. Some extra folders in back. • If you have a 30 minute time frame between meetings, keep your meeting to 15 minutes! • Comfortable shoes! • Lunch at Congressional Visitor Center—restrictive! • Bus leaves at 3:30 from Peace Circle (same as drop-off) • In some cases, your cell phone number was requested, please answer any calls that come from 703 or 202 area code.

25. Notes • You will NOT be provided with a snack/breakfast for the morning, so please give yourself time in the morning for fuel. • IMPORTANT!! If you are running late, call Capitol Switchboard at 202-224-3121 and ask for your legislator’s office.

26. Role Playing • Group assignments (Groups 1-6) • Discuss unique arguments to help make your point • Did any new issues arise? • Four meeting components—take turns: • Opening the meeting • Making the case • The asks • Providing the leave-behind (Who will complete the report form and follow up)

27. Role Playing • Additional questions/issues that may arise: • General information about your school or district • The “tough” questions—be prepared! • Why should PE be considered academic? • Why should the federal government require PE? • What evidence do you have that PEP grants have benefited students?

28. Have fun! You are important to the process!! THANK YOU!