RRCNA Action Alert & Advocacy Update - January, 2008

Dear RRCNA Members:

Happy New Year! My theme for this year is "make it great in 2008" for Reading
Recovery. As if electing a President, 35 U.S. Senators and 435 Representatives
isn't enough, eleven states will elect governors, 6 will elect a chief state
school officer, and thousands of state and local legislative and school board
races will be decided on November 4th. Below are eight things everyone can do
to make literacy a priority in the School House, the State House and the White
House this year.

1. SURF the Internet for websites and information about office holders and
   other decision-makers, candidat es and issues with potential to impact education
   in your community. You may want to start with RRCNA's Advocacy Calendar, which
   includes primary dates, congressional district work periods, literacy
   commemorative events etc.
    
2. SIGN UP up for free e-newsletters from your elected officials.
    
3. READ or LISTEN to your Governor's State-of-the-State address for education
   initiatives. For date & time, check your Governor's office website or try
   Stateline.Org.
    
4. BLOG for the latest in education policy zeitgeist. Examples of well-traveled
   blogs include:
   
   - Education Week "Campaign K-12" blog
   - Education Sector "Eduwonk" blog
   - Education Writers Association "Education Election" blog
    
5. SHARE your news with stakeholders. Do you have stories of children who
   received Reading Recovery lessons? Reading Recovery colleagues receiving
   recognition for their expertise and effectiveness? An innovative collaboration
   between Reading Recovery and other educators? These are all great reasons to
   contact elected officials.
    
6. HOST or MEET at least one stakeholder (could be a parent, principal,
   administrator, school board member, state legislator, Governor, member of
   congress, etc.). Whether observing Reading Recovery, attending a teacher
   graduation or something else, seeing is believing! But because not everyone
   will be able to visit Reading Recovery in person, a visit to a district office,
   Town Hall meeting or other local gathering could be just as beneficial.
    
7. VOTE!
    
8. CONTACT the Reading Recovery Council of North America for ideas, information
   or assistance with advocacy, or go to our website.

 
Together we'll make it great in 2008!