The education laws and policy decisions made in the state capitol might seem far removed from the realities of the schools, but their impact hits much closer to home than one might realize. Keeping track of those state debates as they occur is a good way to keep teachers, administrators, and local parents in-the-loop about changes that might be…

This guide is intended to help people in the nursing profession, especially deans at schools of nursing, to effectively influence public policy at the federal level. Introductory material identifies key Senate and House committees and stresses the importance of establishing and maintaining a relationship with one's representatives in the Congress.…

This guide to the legislative process provides information on how to work within the legislative process for changes benefiting children and families. The guide is divided into 5 major sections: (1) know the issues and know the state and congressional legislative systems; (2) know how to express an opinion; (3) communications from non-profit…

This handbook offers suggestions for action to protect the interests of vocational-technical education. Part 1, Advocacy, has four parts: why vocational-technical education professionals should get involved in the legislative process; guidelines for communicating with one's legislator through personal visits, letters/e-mail/faxes, telephone calls,…

The influence of the federal government budgetary process on international education programs is discussed, and information is provided to help persons who wish to have their views known to the decision-makers. Specific information is included on programs administered by the U.S. International Communication Agency (USICA) and the Department of…

Techniques for preparing and making effective presentations before Congressional committees on behalf of an institution are outlined, including the statement content and length, behavior with legislators, audiovisual aids, answering questions, and posthearing activities. (MSE)

A "mini-manual" for individuals in education and the human services interested in increasing their involvement in the political process presupposes that much powerlessness is self-imposed, and encourages attitude change to make the most of potential individual power. The manual is also an introduction to lobbying and the legislative process. After…

This handbook, for individuals working with people who have disabilities, is designed to empower them to be a force for meeting the policy challenges in the communities in which they live and work. It is designed to help in channeling one's strength, commitment, and knowledge of the special education field into effective advocacy efforts. The…

This handbook is designed: (1) to empower individuals working with people who have disabilities to be a force for meeting the policy challenges in the communities in which they live and work; and (2) to help them to channel their strength, commitment, and knowledge of the special education field into effective advocacy efforts. The handbook…

This guide contains suggestions for citizens to follow in exploring and addressing policies that affect children. The guide focuses on federal child policy, but the strategies described also apply to policies at the state and local levels. The first part of the guide describes sources of information on government policies relating to children.…

This document is the print component of the two-hour teleconference "Investing in Our Youth: A Nationwide Committee of the Whole." Produced by South Carolina ETV, the program is aimed at state legislators to help them develop policies and practices for meeting the needs of America's youth. This document is also a part of "Realizing America's…

Difficulties and rewards in using state assessment policy to benefit both students and the state are reviewed. The questions examined in this guide will help state policy makers know the questions they should ask about whether, what, and how well students are learning. Questions were developed from four seminars in 1989, 1990, and 1991 on…

This article provides an overview of policymaking in relation to state and local district testing and accountability and concludes by identifying continuing policy issues and strategies for local implementation of standards-based secondary education that aligns with current testing and accountability policies. Governance models for curriculum…