Be An Advocate

Visiting Your Legislators- State or Federal
Meeting with your state legislator or with your U. S. Congress member or Senator can be a very effective way to educate your legislator about your program and about the issues of concern to you.

Use the following guidelines for your visit:

Decide the purpose of your visit. There are many reasons you may want to visit your representatives and senators. The most common are:

To get to know the staff and let them know that you are a good source of information about Reading Recovery and early literacy.

To urge them to sponsor legislation, to vote for a bill in committee or on the floor, or to vote against pending legislation.

Contact the local or capitol office to set up an appointment. Call your representative�s or senator�s local office � or the capitol office if you are traveling to the state or nation�s capitol. You may want to say something like this: �Hello. My name is _______________. I am a constituent of _______________. I would like to meet with him/her to discuss my concerns about early literacy education programs � particularly about Reading Recovery. I would appreciate the opportunity to meet with him/her as soon as possible � at home in the district or in the capital.�

If the staff person says that the legislator will not be available for some time, ask to meet with the aide who has responsibility for education issues. Do not feel slighted if you are told to see the staff person. You can still ask to see the legislator after your meeting with the staff. Staff persons tend to have excellent relationships with the legislators and can serve as your entry point to future contacts with the office and with the legislator. You have information that the staff persons need, so share it generously!

Plan for the meeting. Decide who will attend the meeting with you and inform the legislator�s office in advance. If you are going with others, organize with them in advance and designate a spokesperson. For greatest impact, know what each person is going to say, rehearse it, and stay with the topic. The more people involved, the shorter each presentation must be. Prepare information that you think will be helpful to your legislator or the staff person. Some examples include:

Articles in local newspapers about early literacy problems.

Statistics you have collected about the service you provide in Reading Recovery.

A fact sheet about the program or about the particular bill in which you are interested.

Additional materials from RRCNA.

Go on the visit. Expect to be nervous! Take along materials in a prepared packet in sufficient quantity for each member of your party and each person with whom you are meeting. When you arrive at the office, introduce yourself to the receptionist and state why you are there. When you meet the staff person or legislator, thank him/her for the opportunity to meet and for the time on their schedule. Be polite. Treat the staff and legislator as you would want to be treated. If you disagree on a point, consider a different solution. Figure out ways to win the person over to your way of seeing things. Leave open your ability to meet again. Children need you to build bridges. Invite the staff and legislator to visit a Reading Recovery lesson.

During the meeting, talk about the areas in which you have worked or have expertise. If you are a teacher, talk about a �typical� lesson. If you are a parent, talk about what Reading Recovery has meant to your child and your family. If you are a friend or community advocate, talk about the benefit to the community which Reading Recovery creates. If you are an administrator, talk about Reading Recovery as a part of your comprehensive literacy program.

Be prepared to answer questions. If you cannot answer the specific questions asked, admit that you do not have the requested information and volunteer to follow up and provide the answers as soon as possible. Sometimes legislators ask questions to make a point. Be careful and avoid being defensive. Try to get a sense of where the legislator stands. If you disagree, do so politely. �I see what you are getting at, but my experience is different.� Do not be argumentative.

At the close of the meeting, thank the legislator or staff for taking time to meet with you. Affirm any follow up you agreed to do. Invite the legislator to visit your Reading Recovery program.

It is highly likely that most of the time you will be meeting with staff members rather than with the legislator. Staff members are critical members of the legislative team. They deserve your utmost respect and consideration. They serve as surrogates for their legislator in gathering information and helping understand the issues. They may or may not be able to make commitments for the legislator.

Follow Up the Visit. Meet again to debrief as a group with any colleagues who joined you for the meeting. Or report back to your colleagues who helped plan the visit. Discuss your experience, your observations, and your recommendations for further action. Send a letter of thanks to the legislator and staff member who facilitated the meeting. In the letter, summarize any commitments made by the legislator or staff member. Make absolutely sure to get back with answers and/or information requested during the meeting.

Remember: One visit or call is not enough. Develop an ongoing relationship with the legislator or staff person by:

Continuing to make contacts after your first visit�starting with your thank you note.

Sending articles and newsletters.

Writing letters with updated information as available.

Offering your assistance in thinking through solutions that could lead to more effective early literacy interventions.

Calling periodically with updates.

Calling with requests to support various bills.

Inviting your legislator and staff to speak to your local Reading Recovery Program personnel and to observe a lesson.

The more and better you communicate, the more seriously you will be taken and the more willing the office will be to rely upon you and your judgments.

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