Learn the basics of advocating on behalf of schools and principals

What is advocacy?

Advocacy is organized activism in support of an idea or cause. As an advocate for middle level and high school principals, assistant principals, and aspiring school leaders, you can help focus policy makers’ attention on secondary school reform in order to ensure all students graduate from high school college and career ready.

Advocacy consists of constituents contacting their elected officials about issues that are important to them and establishing relationships with these legislators. These relationships are then leveraged to influence public policy decisions. By establishing relationships and champions, you encourage public officials to make a commitment to you and all the members of NASSP.

People often ask how advocacy is different from lobbying. Lobbying is an effort to influence the thinking of legislators or other public officials for or against a specific cause or a specific piece of proposed legislation. Advocacy is the promotion of a cause, idea, or policy. In other words, your active support of improved school leadership and of secondary schools is considered advocacy.

How do I advocate?

There are many ways to make your voice heard.


Capitol Hill Basics