The Arizona Charter Schools Association has a paid public policy advisor that assists in our lobbying efforts. I echo Joe's comment that it is worth it for charters to budget a small percentage for membership in their associations that can provide for the lobbying efforts. Districts spend taxpayers money to belong to school boards association.
It is equally important for the charter community to recognize that they are not merely a movement - but an industry - and as all other industries have found, it is imperative to be politically active for survival. Every charter operator needs to be prepared to be writing those checks and working on charter supporters' campaigns. A hundred dollar check to someone's campaign goes a lot further than most phone calls. We need to make sure school choice has bi-partisan support.
We have worked with homeschoolers, and private & parochial school supporters on efforts to advance educational freedoms and choice. We joined with Community Colleges this year to get a resolution to the ballot in November that will amend our constitution to put a charter school operator on the state board of education. We have also worked with association of homeowner's associations to protect the rights of charters to locate themselves within communities...the partnering is endless.
Posted as a reply to:
coalitions vs. "permanent" state-level lobbying by Jim Diana
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