DECA Members: Obtaining Legislators’ Support

Presentation Created by Micah Melling, CRVP for 2011-2012

Presentation Objectives and Outline

To explain Career and Technical Education (CTE) and Career and Technical Student Organizations (CTSOs)

To establish the importance of the presentation’s topic

To give information about the government’s impact on CTE and CTSOs

To specifically discuss why legislators are the target audience

To provide strategies for reaching out to legislators

Career and Technical Education (CTE)

Career and Technical Education (CTE) prepares students to be “college and career ready.”

CTE helps students to develop employability skills, core-academic skills, and job-specific skills.

Examples of CTE classes: marketing, business management, agriculture, welding, and auto mechanics.

Career and Technical Student Organizations (CTSOs)

CTE programs are the basis for Career and Technical Student Organizations (CTSOs).

CTSOs give students the opportunity to apply what they have learned in the classroom to real-world situations.

DECA is one of ten CTSOs recognized by the U.S. Department of Education.

The Importance of Reaching Out to Legislators

State and federal legislators appropriate funding for CTE.

Legislation that affects CTE also impacts CTSOs. If funding for CTE is reduced, CTSOs will be

negatively affected. If funding for CTE is increased, CTSOs will be

more likely to thrive.

The Perkins Act The Carl D. Perkins Career and Technical

Education Act is the federal law the funds CTE.

Currently, the Perkins Act provides approximately $1.13 billion per fiscal year to be shared among states.

The programs, funding, and requirements in the Perkins Act affect CTE programs throughout the nation. A PowerPoint

presentation about the Perkins Act can be found on www.slideshare.net/decainc.

The Role of Federal Legislators

Members of the United States Congress determine the appropriation for the Perkins Act. They have the power to reduce it, to keep it

the same, or to increase it.

The Role of the U.S. Department of Education

The Office of Vocational and Adult Education (OVAE) is the section of the U.S. Department of Education that focuses on CTE.

The OVAE distributes Perkins funds to states. A formula is used to determine how much

money each state should receive. They assist states in running their CTE

programs. The OVAE also conducts year-end reviews

with states.

The Role of State Legislators

Many state legislatures appropriate funding for CTE. In many cases, the state-level funding for CTE

monetarily exceeds the amount of Perkins funding a state receives.

Please note that not all state legislatures provide funding for CTE.

Each state legislature has a website, which can be a great resource to use when determining how to gain legislators’ support.

The Role of State Education Departments

A state’s education department is part of its government. State education departments operate through

funding appropriated by their state legislature.

In 2008, state education departments were required to submit a State Plan to the U.S. Department of Education. The State Plan outlined the state’s strategy for using their federal Perkins funds.

The Role of State Education Departments (Cont)

State education departments distribute CTE-earmarked funds to school districts. This funding helps school districts operate

their CTE programs. Many CTSOs are administered through

state education departments. They provide a state advisor and offer general

support.

The Role of School Districts

After the 2006 reauthorization of the Perkins Act, school districts were required to develop a Local Plan.

The Local Plan explained the school district’s strategy for using their Perkins funds.

The Target Audience

State and federal legislators ultimately determine the level of funding for CTE.

Therefore, legislators are the target audience because they play a large role in determining the future of CTE and, by association, CTSOs.

Objectives of Reaching Out to Legislators

1. To educate them about CTE and CTSOs, particularly DECA

2. To show them the value of CTE and CTSOs

3. To convince them to pledge their support for CTE and CTSOs

4. To interest them in becoming involved with DECA

Ideas for Chapters

Appointments Set up a meeting with your state legislators

when they are in the district. Take chapter officers to your state’s capitol

for a visit with your legislators. When your U.S. Representative is in the

district, request to meet with him/her to discuss the benefits of CTE and CTSOs.

Ideas for Chapters (Cont)

Involvement with the Chapter Invite your state legislators to a chapter

meeting. Ask your state legislators to help students

prepare for competition.▪ Read written projects.▪ Critique presentations.▪ Be a judge for practice role plays.

Welcome them to join your chapter as a “professional member.”Helpful Hint: Whenever you meet with your

legislators, give them something to take with them (e.g. a chapter newsletter or an informational handout).

Ideas for State Action Teams

State Congressional Advisory Board (CAB) Create a nonpartisan CAB for members of your state’s

General Assembly. Develop a signature form and informational letter. Ask legislators to sign if they support CTE and DECA. Send a thank-you letter if they join. Invite members of your State CAB to judge at district

competitions and/or the state competition.

Helpful Hint: Partner with at least one state legislator who is willing to help start and grow your State CAB.

What exactly is a CAB? A CAB is a nonpartisan group of legislators who are supportive of CTE and DECA. That’s all!

Ideas for State Action Teams (Cont)

National Congressional Advisory Board (CAB) Send a CAB invitation to the members of

Congress from your state. View sample invitations in the “Political

Outreach Kit” on DECA’s SlideShare Account. Mail a thank-you letter if they join. If they don’t join, follow up with a phone call

or an email and offer to provide more information.

Ideas for State Action Teams (Cont)

Activities at the State Capitol Organize a proclamation signing with your

Governor’s office.▪ This can be for “DECA Week,” “Global

Entrepreneurship Week,” or “CTE Month.” As a state officer team, go to your state’s

capitol and visit with legislators. Set up a day for DECA members to go to your

state’s capitol and meet their legislators.Helpful Hint: The Association for Career and Technical Education (ACTE) is present in all 50 states. Your state’s ACTE can help be a helpful resource when coordinating activities at your state capital.

Ideas for State Action Teams (Cont)

Informational Documents Develop a statewide DECA newsletter to give to

legislators. Give legislators a polished “pride points”

document about your state association of DECA.

Helpful Hints: 1). Before meeting with legislators, develop a formal document of “talking points” to use.2). Encourage legislators to visit deca.org as well as your state association’s website.

Points to Remember

CTE and CTSOs are vital parts of the nation’s educational system. These educational opportunities prepare students to be “college and career ready.”

CTE is federally funded by the Perkins Act. Many state legislatures also appropriate funding for CTE.

State and federal legislators ultimately determine the level of funding for CTE; therefore, they are the target audience.

Points to Remember (Cont)

The Office of Vocational and Adult Education is the section of the U.S. Department of Education that focuses on CTE.

State education departments determine a direction for their state’s CTE programs, distribute funds to local recipients, and often provide state advisors to administer CTSOs.

School districts determine how to most effectively use the funds they have been given.

Points to Remember (Cont)

To preserve a bright future for DECA, chapter members and state officers must reach out to legislators.

Legislators should be invited to CTSO events and asked to openly pledge their support for CTE.

With more supportive legislators, CTE and CTSOs will have a more secure future.

For More Information…

Three other political outreach resources can be found on DECA’s SlideShare Account. A “DECA and Politics” document A “Political Outreach Kit” A “Perkins Act” PowerPoint

Questions?

Email Central Region Vice President Micah Melling. decavpmicah@gmail.com.

After May of 2012, contact John Fistolera. john_fistolera@deca.org