A POWERFUL INFLUENCE ON EDUCATION POLICY

Every year, legislatures across the country consider thousands of bills that are incredibly consequential to the future of K–12 education in their states. Funding for schools is boosted or cut, new curriculum, graduation, and other requirements are implemented, and policy proposals that can improve or harm the effectiveness and attractiveness of the educator professions are debated. How beneficial state policy is for educators often comes down to how effectively they raise their voices and work with lawmakers to ensure that the true experts in the field are the ones exerting the greatest influence in the lawmaking process.

NASSP’s state affiliate organizations are leading the charge to develop school leaders as advocates influencing policy decisions. In the past year, state school leader associations have implemented new strategies to encourage more principals to take an active role in advocacy. The four stories below offer a glimpse into their success.

Florida Association of School Administrators (FASA)

JESSICA JANASIEWICZ | FASA GOVERNMENT CONSULTANT

Florida State Representative Kevin Steele greets FASA members at the capitol. PHOTO COURTESY OF FASA

FASA emerged from the 2024 legislative session with a series of significant victories, reinforcing our commitment to advocating for Florida’s public schools. Through persistent lobbying and collaboration with lawmakers, FASA succeeded in advancing several pillars of our legislative platform, addressing critical issues that impact the state’s education system:

  • FASA championed deregulation efforts to reduce administrative burdens on school districts. Language included in Senate Bills 7002 and 7004 introduced measures that streamline compliance requirements and provided districts with greater flexibility in meeting state mandates. These changes empower educators and administrators to focus more on student outcomes and less on bureaucratic processes.
  • Recognizing the pressing need to address mental health and school safety, FASA successfully advocated for increased funding in these areas. An additional $20 million was allocated for mental health initiatives, providing resources to support student well-being and access to mental health services. Furthermore, $40 million in new funding was dedicated to enhancing school safety measures, ensuring that schools across the state are better equipped to provide secure learning environments.

FASA’s accomplishments in the 2024 legislative session highlight the power of unified advocacy. By engaging with lawmakers, fostering partnerships, and articulating the needs of Florida’s administrators and students, FASA has ensured that public education remains a legislative priority. These wins not only address immediate concerns but also lay the groundwork for continued progress in the years to come.

Association of Washington School Principals (AWSP)

ROZ THOMPSON | AWSP DIRECTOR OF GOVERNMENT RELATIONS AND ADVOCACY

Elementary, middle, and high school principals and assistant principals from across the state who traveled to Olympia to meet with legislators in February. PHOTO COURTESY OF AWSP

At AWSP, we believe in the ABCs of Advocacy, and that each one of our members can play a role in our year-round advocacy work.

A–Plan for Advocacy

Each fall, our board and advocacy council adopt a legislative platform. This document is an important road map for our focus during the legislative session. Our platform highlights the budget requests and policy needs of our members. We also develop supporting documents with survey data, research, and demographic information about our membership.

Relationships are key to advocacy.

B–Be Systematic

Develop a year-long calendar with your plan for advocacy. We use Basecamp (an online project management tool) to communicate with our AWSP Board of Directors, our Grade-Level Leadership Committees, and our Advocacy Advisory Council. Many of these people also serve as our Principal Partners for Legislators, who email their local legislators each month about an important and timely issue. We’ve worked to have more legislators participating in our Principal for a Day events each fall, and we bring principals to our state capitol each winter for our Legislative Day on the Hill.

C–Make Connections

Relationships are key to advocacy. Make connections with legislators and their legislative assistants, as well as with partisan and nonpartisan staff. Reach out to staff from your state department of education and from education associations who represent classified staff, teachers, other administrators, and school board members. Together, you can work on education policy and budget issues to have a greater impact.

Association of California School Administrators (ACSA)

DIANA VU | ACSA LEGISLATIVE ADVOCATE

ACSA hosts an annual Legislative Action Day. In 2024, more than 250 school leaders stepped away from their school sites and districts to come to the state capitol in Sacramento to advocate for what’s best for students. PHOTO COURTESY OF ACSA

ACSA and its members celebrated a series of key policy victories in a very busy past legislative year. By committing to regularly meeting with state lawmakers, our members helped ensure the passage of bills that increased funding for key K–12 programs, protected job security for educators, expanded rights for students, enacted more stringent requirements on social media companies to protect youth mental health, expanded dual enrollment opportunities, and more.

Our policy achievements show how the power of direct advocacy is effective in shaping educational policies and influencing the passage of critical legislation. From securing increased funding for public schools to advancing initiatives aimed at supporting students’ education and well-being, these wins were a testament to the collective efforts of ACSA and its members.

ACSA’s strong, consistent advocacy, coupled with the mobilization of its members, played a pivotal role in educating policymakers about the challenges and needs of California’s schools. Through grassroots lobbying, meetings with legislators, and organized campaigns, ACSA members shared their expertise and experiences, demonstrating the real-world impact of policy decisions on educators and students. These efforts not only led to legislative victories but also strengthened ACSA’s reputation as a leading voice in education policy.

Moving forward, ACSA remains committed to ensuring that educational leaders continue to have a seat at the table as key decisions about the future of education are made. The success of these initiatives proves that when educators unite for a common cause, significant change is possible.

Minnesota Association of Secondary School Principals (MASSP)

ROBERT DRIVER | MASSP EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR

State Senator Matt Kline, Representative Rick Hansen, and Principal Charles Ochocki. PHOTO COURTESY OF MASSP

In January, just days before the start of the 2025 Minnesota Legislative Session, state legislators paid visits to schools across Minnesota. In its second year, the Principal for a Day initiative—a collaboration between the Minnesota Association of Secondary School Principals (MASSP) and the Minnesota Elementary School Principals Association (MESPA)—brought dozens of lawmakers into local schools to connect with school leaders. The initiative’s goal is to foster strong relationships between legislators and school administrators, so they know to consult their district’s school leaders for input and guidance before new laws are passed and to identify any potential challenges with the implementation of new K–12 policy.

“Principal for a Day” builds on years of effort by MASSP and MESPA to connect legislators with school leaders, but our new annual format has yielded additional success. Ahead of the event, Minnesota legislators receive a save-the-date email and postcard. Then, the associations send out a toolkit to our members that includes lawmaker information, sample emails, talking points, and on-site instructions. This streamlined approach helps school leaders invite legislators into their schools with ease.

Principal Charles Ochocki hosted two lawmakers at South St. Paul High School this year. As he guided them through his building, they discussed the pressing issue of cell phone policy for K–12 schools, an issue on which the state legislature had recently passed new legislation. Ochocki was able to show his elected officials firsthand how the state’s new law was being implemented and its impact. Similarly, Integrated Arts Academy School Principal Angie Charboneau-Folch hosted a visit from a key committee chairperson. Following their meeting, she was invited to testify before the Senate Education Policy Committee and further expanded her impact on policy.

Principal for a Day is now a key component of our grassroots advocacy strategy and shows that deep personal connections create real, lasting impact on our state’s education policy.