The two-year 2023–24 state legislative session ended Aug. 31, which means state Senators and Assemblymembers across the state have headed home for a few months in their districts. This provides a great opportunity for local education leaders to connect with their representatives and build relationships that will strengthen their advocacy year-round.

School board members are critical spokespersons for public education, offering a vital connection to how state and federal policies play out in the real world. It may seem daunting, but remember, school board members are uniquely suited to advocate for public education, as their elected office gives them a full-spectrum view of how local educational agencies operate, the challenges students face and the short- and long-term priorities of LEAs.

More importantly, if school board members do not step up to advocate, someone else will — and their message may not be the same. Being proactive and ensuring the voices of school trustees are heard is the best way to fight for policies that work best for schools and students.

CSBA staff and resources are available to help board members on their advocacy journey. From CSBA’s 16 regional PACERs (Public Affairs and Community Engagement Representatives) to its Governmental Relations advocacy team, there are many who are available to help board members in developing and implementing an advocacy strategy.

PACERs serve to connect CSBA members with advocacy resources, services, counsel and other supportive programs. Responsible for implementing CSBA’s grassroots program, PACERs are the linchpin to establishing relationships and facilitating local and regional outreach and advocacy efforts. They can help boards identify which legislators represent their district, connect members with federal and state legislative staff who cover education, set up meetings and site visits, provide guidance on how to maximize time with lawmakers and more. They facilitate relationships between school board members and their elected representatives, helping raise an LEA’s profile and spheres of influence. Members should connect with their local PACER to discuss advocacy and strategies.

Also available as a resource are CSBA’s Governmental Relations legislative advocates, who bring years of legislative and political experience. Interacting daily with legislators and their staff, CSBA’s advocacy team is a great resource to understand the legislative process, to help identify current policy and political trends and explain how finance and education policy impacts your LEA.

During the legislative year, from January through August, many lawmakers are only in their home district a few days a week. The legislative recess, which typically runs from September to December, offers expanded opportunities to connect with local representatives and is a valuable time to build on existing relationships and forge new connections with legislators and their staff. It is recommended that board members reach out early to their representatives since schedules can fill up fast. CSBA members can also work with their PACER for a time to set up meetings.

Best practices for meeting with a legislator or their staff:

• Know the audience: Board members should come prepared knowing their representative’s committee assignments and areas of influence to craft talking points and asks accordingly.
• Be prepared: Understand the issues well and be prepared to present them in a clear manner. Fact sheets, research, real life anecdotes and examples to illustrate the issues, support letters and testimonials and board resolutions can all help support the case being made and establish the presenter as a resource for legislators and their staff.
• Be ready to offer potential solutions: Offer practical and reasonable solutions and make sure the suggested solutions are realistic and applicable on a statewide level. PACERs and CSBA’s Governmental Relations staff can provide assistance in crafting an approach.
• Be a resource: Prepare resources to leave behind so staff can easily access the information after the meeting ends. Providing a real-life example or narrative can help a legislator in advocating for the issue and establish the board member as a resource in the future.
• Follow up: Board members should keep in touch with their legislator and especially their staff. An invitation to visit the LEA can be extended and coordinating a site visit can showcase a great program or one that needs more support. Continue to show legislators how their work can support and expand services for your students.

Although the legislative recess ends in January, the foundations of a board member’s relationship with their legislators do not have to. These relationships can fuel year-round advocacy and it’s important to build on those relationships throughout the year by remaining in touch and by taking advantage of the advocacy opportunities CSBA offers throughout the year.

CSBA also offers two annual lobby events every spring, the state-level Legislative Action Week and the federal Coast2Coast trip to Washington, D.C., as well as budget and issue-based meetings throughout the legislative year. These events offer formal opportunities for hundreds of board members to bring their voices to decision-makers at the state and federal levels and make what 2023 Legislative Action Week participant Marcy Masumoto, Fresno County Office of Education board member and CSBA Region 10 Delegate, called a “collective impact on the budget and legislative policies that affect every student in California.”

The experience and knowledge of local education leaders are vital parts of the policymaking process. Strengthening these relationships with lawmakers at the state and federal level now and throughout the year will lay a foundation to ensure that local voices are heard at every level of government.