Legislative Advocacy
Legislative Advocacy for Career and Technical Education
Legislative advocacy helps TSA members, advisors, and supporters communicate the value of career and technical education to the policymakers who shape funding, policy, and educational opportunities. Through informed outreach, local stories, data, and direct communication, advocates can make a clear case for continued investment in CTE programs. Whether visiting the Georgia Capitol, meeting with congressional representatives, sharing fact sheets, giving testimony, or inviting leaders to tour local programs, successful advocacy depends on being prepared, specific, constructive, and relationship-focused. By developing ongoing connections with policymakers and encouraging others to stay informed, TSA chapters can help strengthen support for students, schools, and technical education across Georgia.
What is Legislative Advocacy?
- Making the case for a larger investment in career and technical education.
- Working with policy makers to address concerns of career and technical education.
Why is it Important?
- Making the case for a larger investment in career and technical education.
- Working with policy makers to address concerns of career and technical education.
Who Should You Target?
Education programs like career and technical education are governed by the federal government, state government and by your local school district, so all three levels are important.
- Congressional representatives
- U.S. Secretary of Education
- Office of Vocational and Adult Education
General Advocacy Guidelines
- Be Informed
- Know the Policy Maker
- Make it Local
- Be Concise
- Be Specific
- Be Constructive
- Follow-Up
- Continue Relationship
Methods of Communication
- Visits with Key Policymakers
- Fact Sheets
- Letter/Faxes/E-Mails
- Calls to Key Policymakers
- School Tours
- Presenting Testimony
- Community Activism
- Political Campaigns
Legislative Visits
Before Your Visit
- Call staffers to schedule appointments
- Define your goals, gather your facts, and plan your group strategy
- Prepare your materials
- Know where you are going
- Be on time, be flexible
Steps to a Successful Visit
- Identify yourself and your organization: no acronyms or abbreviations.
- Deliver your message: use local stories and statistics and share your personal experiences.
- Make your request.
- Ask for something specific.
- Say thank you.
What You Can Do
- Develop a relationship with your congressional representatives.
- Share data and statistics with policymakers.
- Stay informed on key issues and sign up for ACTE Legislative Alerts.
- Share this information with others and encourage them to become advocates.
