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NASSP Federal Grassroots Network

Register for the 2018 Advocacy Conference

Time is running out! Sign up now while there is still space available and before the February 28 deadline. Join hundreds of principals and other education leaders from around the country at the 2018 NASSP Advocacy Conference, March 19–21. At the conference, you’ll explore new tactics to influence policymakers at the local, state, and federal levels and learn how to advocate for your schools and students. Then, flex your advocacy muscles on Capitol Hill in scheduled meetings with your members of Congress and other attendees from your state. Register today!

This Month’s Top Advocacy Issues

A Short-Term Shutdown Ends with a Budget Deal

For the second time in less than three weeks, the government shut down at midnight on February 8, after Senator Rand Paul (R-KY) refused to allow the Senate to hold a vote on another short-term funding package. Fortunately, none of the detrimental long-term impacts of a shutdown were felt, as Congress was able to pass the bill just hours later in the early morning of February 9. This new funding package carries with it greater hope to avoid more budget politics in the future, as tied to it is a deal to raise the defense and nondefense discretionary spending caps for the next two years. Now that the Appropriations Committees have concrete numbers, they’re able to begin writing the rest of the FY 2018 budget. They have over a month to do so, as the current short-term funding package will expire on March 23. You can find more information on the deal to raise the budget caps here.

Twitter Talk

 
 
 

Proud to work with this group of incredible leaders! #makingglobalchange #education

 

For more advocacy tweets, join us on social media by following NASSP and the advocacy staff on Twitter:

 
 
 
 

 

Collaborations

On January 23–28, NASSP’s National Honor Society, National Junior Honor Society, and National Student Council held a Hill Day event with the Student Leadership Advisory Committee as part of the Leadership Experience and Development (LEAD) Conference in D.C. The committee conducted meetings with House and Senate offices on Capitol Hill to discuss the importance of funding programs that aid students. They also led two advocacy training workshops at the conference.

 

 

Take Action

As Congress considers appropriations for both FY 2018 and FY 2019, it’s important that advocates raise their voice to support educators and students. After being cut in FY 2017, Title II of ESSA is dangerously close to losing funding altogether. It is crucial that you contact your representatives during this critical juncture to inform them that Title II is necessary for principals to help their students and their school. You can do this by participating in NASSP’s latest Title II action alert.

 

In this Month’s
Principal Leadership

Principal Leadership magazine cover

This month’s Principal Leadership features an article by Sharif El-Mekki, principal of Mastery Charter School Shoemaker Campus in Philadelphia, PA, and former principal ambassador fellow at the U.S. Department of Education from 2013–15. In it, Principal El-Mekki outlines the importance of diversity and equity in a school’s faculty and describes concrete strategies for achieving results.

All FGN members are invited to write a guest article for Principal Leadership or blog post for School of Thought. Just email Senior Manager, Federal Engagement and Outreach, Zachary Scott with your idea.


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