Thursday, August 13, 2015

November is "VSBA Take Your Legislator to School" Month

In an effort to promote a closer relationship between public education and the Virginia General Assembly, the Virginia School Boards Association urges each school division in the state to invite at least one of their state legislators to visit their schools during the month of November. There are many benefits from participating in VSBA Take Your Legislator to School Month, including developing closer relationships between school divisions, local communities and our elected officials, and creating opportunities for productive dialogue so that educational and political leaders can work together to ensure that we provide the best possible education for our students.

This year, the VSBA encourages school divisions to choose an area of focus for your legislative visits. For example, you may decide to have “VSBA Take Your Legislator to CTE School" Month or "VSBA Take Your Legislator to Blended Learning School" Month. This will allow you to emphasize particular aspects and programs in the division that you are most proud of or wish to highlight.

You can find the TYLTSM information packet on our website. The packet includes quick tips/suggestions, a sample invitation letter, a sample press release, and a proclamation from the VSBA Board of Directors. We ask that you please share photos of your legislative visits with VSBA so that we can use them in future publications.

In the meantime, we hope to see you at the 2015 VSBA Legislative Advocacy Conference, which will take place on September 10 at the Doubletree by Hilton Charlottesville. This conference will highlight upcoming issues for the 2016 legislative session, hot topics in education policy, and ways to engage your elected officials. You’ll have a chance to network with our state’s policy makers, hear from General Assembly members from across the Commonwealth and learn how to make your voice effective in Richmond. Register today at https://em.eboardsolutions.com/Events/Registration/Wizard/EventDetails.aspx?C=ifON&EID=GGEG
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Thank you for your continued commitment and hard work as leaders, advocates, and supporters of public education.