ASCD Affiliates know what they stand for and work for what they believe in. They are visible, respected, and sought after as reliable and informed sources of accurate information regarding quality learning, teaching, and leading. Affiliate leaders anticipate issues and are proactive in shaping recommendations to improve education policy for the success of each learner. Read more in the Affiliate Developmental Continuum ( 51KB).

What Do You Know About Your Affiliate's Influence and Advocacy Efforts?

Maintaining a Drive for Influence

ASCD Influence and Policy Resources

What Do You Know About Your Affiliate's Influence and Advocacy Efforts?

• Are you an ASCD Educator Advocate?
• How many ASCD Educator Advocates are in your affiliate's geographic area?
• What is the relationship between your affiliate and your local, state, and national policymakers?
• What contact, and in what context, has your affiliate had with local policymakers?
• What outcomes, if any, have resulted from your affiliate's relationships with policymakers?
• Do you already have or intend to form a grassroots advocacy network?

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 Maintaining a Drive for Influence

Affiliates vary widely in their attempts to influence education legislation and policy at the local, state or provincial, or national levels. This is a complicated area and one in which few have had much experience.

The local level is usually the most important to affiliates. Members are keenly aware of how state or provincial laws, policies, and regulations affect the quality of education in the classroom. Members will better value your affiliate if you are able to influence legislation on issues about which the membership has personal knowledge.

Be sure to address influence efforts in your budget, meeting agendas, strategic plan, training requirements, and other areas of affiliate business. ASCD has resources to help you.

At minimum, you should include appropriate policymakers in publications distribution lists. Some affiliates have been active in this manner and are frequently sought out by policymakers for their expertise on local educational issues. Information on how to contact national, state, and provincial policymakers can be found in ASCD's Action Center, and affiliate members are encouraged to speak out on specific issues of concern in their communities. ASCD Educator Advocates is another way your members can become engaged and participate in policy issues at the national level.

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