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Communicating with Legislators

In order to effectively represent you and your district, legislators need to understand your needs.  Don’t assume that elected officials know about your district’s issues and the potential impact of legislation.  Tell them.  Involve them.  Invite them to see for themselves.  Provide updates on a regular basis, and make sure lawmakers are well informed about your district’s happenings, projects and concerns.

With this in mind, you can do the following on an on-going basis:

• Periodically meet with your legislators to familiarize them with your district and its schools.  Shared information can include: the number of students and employees in the district, facilities, early childhood and alternative education initiatives, PSSA scores and academic achievement data, funding issues, community engagement, construction projects and any unique problems that exist.

• Invite legislators to attend school events such as musical or theatrical productions, sporting events, academic bowls, community fairs or run/walks.

• Invite legislators to spend a day in the school and get involved in the classrooms.  Legislators’ Back to School Week, a week designated throughout the nation in September each year, offers a prime opportunity to initiate this involvement.  Then, continue to offer invitations to legislators throughout the school year.

In the schools, ask legislators to teach a class or lead group discussions with students.  They can provide an “up close and personal” look at the legislative process and the responsibilities of elected officials.  Ask them to exchange ideas, to tell youngsters how they can be more involved, and to discuss current issues and public problems.

Advocating on an Issue

Focus on issues important to you and the students in your district, and be clear on what your want your legislators to do about them.  Before contacting your legislators, make sure you are familiar with the issue at hand.  Specifically, you should know the bill number, the status of the legislation and PASA’s position on it.  Then, stress the impact the issue will have upon your district specifically.

Identifying and Contacting Legislators

The easiest and most accurate way to determine who your legislators are and to get their contact information is to go to www.legis.state.pa.us.  Insert your zip code in the box at the upper right hand corner of the page.  Then, click on each legislator’s name for his or her background and contact information, including telephone numbers and addresses for offices both within the district and in Harrisburg.  Remember that while your legislators will spend more time in Harrisburg during the school year, when the legislature is in session, it is often most effective to contact them in their district offices.

There is no single correct method of contacting your legislator.  Each lawmaker has a favored means of communication that depends largely on personal preference.  Your communication will be more effective if you determine as early as possible whether your legislator would rather receive a mailed letter or an e-mail.  Telephone calls and personal visits are particularly effective for personalizing your contact.