The Senate is Key to Reopening Schools Safely

On May 15, the House passed the HEROES Act to help schools and campuses reopen safely and save educators’ jobs. Now, it’s up to the Senate. Budget cuts loom even as schools struggle to make the costly changes necessary to reopen safely. Unless the Senate acts soon, those budget cuts could lead to the loss of nearly 2 million education jobs at every level from kindergarten to postsecondary—one-fifth of the workforce. Everyone agrees the road to recovery runs through our schools. But they cannot reopen safely if school budgets are slashed and students do not have what they need to be safe, learn, and succeed—especially the students of color, students with disabilities, and students living in poverty who have suffered most during this crisis.

Email your senators and tell them to take action to reopen schools and campuses safely and save educators’ jobs.

3 Ways to Lobby Your Legislator

1) Be Informed
Know thew issues and your lawmakers. Know where they stand on issues important to students and educators. Use Facebook, Twitter, and other social media to gain insight on their stance on our issues.

2) Contact Your Lawmakers
A recent study found that 97 percent of congressional staffers agree that in-person visits from constituents influenced lawmakers most. But for many. in-person visits during the school day are impossible. Making phone calls, writing letters, and sending emails is also effective. The study found that these personalized communication methods had greater impact that a professional lobbyists's efforts.

3) Be Persuasive, Personable, and Patient.
In comminications with lawmakers, tell your story in a manner that is professional and upbeat. Personalize talking points provided by NEA-NH with your own experiences. Once you've made contact, stay in touch with your lawmaker. And remember that political decision making can be lengthy, so don;t get discouraged.