Getting the Word Out

Suggestions from Kay Brooks for folks who suddenly find themselves dealing with legislation.

March 2008

Well, this is just the beginning. You didn't ask for this fight but you're in it and so let's make the best effort possible. Check out the resources below and let the rest of the larger homeschooling community know if we can be of help.

1.       Communication is HUGE, I mean H U G E. It must be accurate. It must be current. It must be available.

2.       Start an online presence. A blog is a quick and free way to get the information out there now. Check Blogspot.com or WordPress.org to do that. I'd keep the name short and meaningful. An email list hosted by http://YahooGroups.com or http://groups.Google.com is an alternative, however, those are more suited to working groups and not getting the word out and available to people 24/7. You want to be able to pass around ONE URL that will get folks to everything they need, now. 

3.       Make sure you enable comments. You don’t know what a wealth of information, wisdom and networking may be out there if you don’t allow folks to talk back.

4.       Do create an email account where folks can provide the above privately if they want to. That email will get spam so I don’t suggest using someone’s private address. Create a gmail account  if you don’t have an organization edress available. We don’t want anyone’s job compromised because they said something in public that helped the effort. We don’t want anyone NOT to provide valuable information or insight because there wasn’t a private means to convey it.

5.       Get the actual bill wording on that blog. I have really liked the way some states write their bills showing in context just what is being changed. Here's an example that will give folks a very clear understanding of what the bill actually does.

 49-1-608. Subject matter tests for secondary schools — Initiation of value added assessment. — By not later than 1993, the development of subject matter tests will be initiated to measure performance of high school students public or non-public high school students in subjects designated by the state board of education and approved by the education oversight committee. These tests must reflect the complete range of topics covered within

6.       Send the URL for the online presence to everyone you can. Post it at HSWatch, post it to other national groups as well as the local folks. I know not everyone is online but it’s the fastest and best way I know of to ensure folks have up-to-date and accurate information 24/7.

7.       I’ve never worried about the opposition knowing what we’re doing. Frankly, I welcome them knowing.

8.       Every bit of correspondence between citizens and legislators is public record in our state. Likely it is in yours also. Make it available.

9.       On that web space put contact information for the appropriate legislators/administrators. Target your correspondence to the current situation. If it’s just before a specific committee…call/write them. I don’t like unnecessarily involving or annoying uninvolved, at this point, legislators. Check http://TnHomeEd.com/LContact.html  which has info appropriate for TN. A map of the capitol area if folks need to come for a hearing. Parking info, etc.  Feel free to tailor that to fit your situation. The House Committees and Senate pages were mostly cut and paste from the state legislative pages

10.   New to TnHomeEd’s effort this year is adding YouTube video of the committee hearing. Heretofore we had to rely on first person testimonies of what happened. Part of that was because until last year not all the committees were audio recorded, let alone video recorded. Tennessee streams its hearings and sessions now. People can watch from home if they want or catch it later on their computers. Post those links and and times and encourage folks to actually see what’s going on. If your state doesn’t stream…likely your Sunshine Laws will allow personal audio and video recording. If they let in TV/radio reporters…you shouldn’t be denied access either.

11.   In contacting media don’t overlook local bloggers. In TN we have a very strong citizen journalist cadre and they often are on the cutting edge and legislators are quite aware of what’s being talked about there.

You are not alone. Seek out other homeschool and education choice groups and share the load. You may want to connect with the HSWatch folks. They are homeschoolers from across the country that have been there and are helping create strategies and share experiences in order to safeguard our educational choice. Join us at: http://groups.yahoo.com/group/HSWatch

Kay Brooks
Founder, TnHomeEd.com
Kay@TnHomeEd.com

Other good resources you should check:

Information from Annette Hall:

How to Communicate so Your Legislator Will Listen
http://localhs.com/legis/howto.asp

Information from NHEN.org:

Wisdom Gleaned from the NHEN Legislative e-list from folks who've been there, done that: http://www.nhen.org/LegInfo/default.asp?id=395 

How to Monitor Your Legislature for Bills Affecting Homeschoolers
http://www.nhen.org/LegInfo/default.asp?id=423 

Information from VAHomeschoolers:

Homeschool Advocacy - Step by Step
Step 1 - Know the Law http://www.vahomeschoolers.org/advocacy/advocacy_step1.asp
Step 2 - Know the Players http://www.vahomeschoolers.org/advocacy/advocacy_step2.asp
Step 3 - Know Your Local Policies http://www.vahomeschoolers.org/advocacy/advocacy_step3.asp
Step 4 - Know How to Write an Effective Letter or Email http://www.vahomeschoolers.org/advocacy/advocacy_step4.asp
Step 5 - Know How to Write Effective Talking Points http://www.vahomeschoolers.org/advocacy/advocacy_step5.asp