Kathleen Barker Executive Director of Special Education, Oakland Schools Abby Allen Special...

Kathleen Barker

Executive Director of Special Education, Oakland Schools

Abby Allen

Special Education Consultant, Oakland Schools

Policy Making in Education; How to Influence the

Influencer

Participants will... better understand the relationship between politics, policy and interest and how leadership organizations can effect policy development and implementation;gain deeper knowledge surrounding the key players who drive policy formation and adoption; and be introduced to the Michigan Educational Policy and Fellowship Program (EPFP)

Learning Outcomes:

Today's Context

POLICY, POLITICS AND INTERESTS

Democracy is a form of government in which all eligible citizens have an equal say in the decisions that affect their lives. Democracy allows eligible citizens to participate equally—either directly or through elected representatives—in the proposal, development, and creation of laws. It encompasses social, economic and cultural conditions that enable the free and equal practice of political self-determination.

Democracy

VUCAhttp://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IMpV51rk0dI

“A changing landscape” =

Volatile Uncertain Complex Ambiguous

Vision Understanding Clarity Agility

VUCA

Good Policy, Good Politics Good Policy, Bad Politics Bad Policy, Good Politics

Policy and Politics

It will produce a measurable and positive outcome

(good policy) No one is expected to criticize you, write negative letters to the editor, send negative e-mails, etc.

(good politics)

Good Policy/Good Politics

Will not get the outcome you want.(bad policy)

People will have a positive response.(good politics)

Bad Policy/Good Politics

The proposed intervention will lead to a measurable and positive outcome.

(good policy) You will be criticized; negative letters to the editor will

appear; you will pay some kind of political price for advocating or supporting the proposal.

(bad politics)

Good Policy/Bad Politics

Legislative Alerts Bill Pages HELP Committee MAASE LAC and Legislative & Finance Committee

Reports and/or alerts CASE

How do I know what to pay attention to?

Ask yourself…… Whose bill is it? Is there more than one current bill

proposal addressing this same issue? What patterns do you see? Who and how will this impact? Are there unintended consequences?

How do I make sense of a bill?

Acting as an Individual

Principles Belief System Values Vision Knowledge Past Experience

MAASE Platform and Priorities and Positions

CASE Positions Your district’s Board of

Education and Supt. Positions

What do I want to see happen?

Acting on Behalf of a Group

WHO DO I NEED TO INFLUENCE?

Representatives? Senators? How do they function?

As a delegate- representing their district’s views? As a trustee- advocating for their personal beliefs? As a politico- more interested in maintaining office?

Legislator vs. Aide? Advocates for and against? The Doers and Thinkers behind the introduction of

the bill?

WHO in this case is the Influencer?

Be there Be informed Be able to count Don’t be intimidated Don’t take no for an answer Follow through

Making It Happen- Six Steps

Numbers Coalitions Unity Positions Knowledge Relationships Voting Use of the media Money The internet

Forms of Power

Tell a storystory

Use dataUse data

Public Hearings

Tweet

E-mail

Face-to-Face

Use Ambiguity

Use Metaphors

Synecdoche

Where/How do I Learn More?

MAASE

CASE Educational Seminar

EPFP

The Education Policy Fellowship Program (EPFP) is a 10 month in-service professional development program for emerging and mid-level leaders. These professionals work in public, non-profit, and private sector organizations, but they all share the same professional passion: education.

Assess Leadership Styles Understand Strategic Leadership Explore the importance of communication Dialogue with influential policy figures Simulate the political process of running for a public

office Participate in a Professional Learning Team Network with other fellows from your state as well as

other states

EPFP Opportunities:

“Leadership and learning are indispensable to each other.”-John F. Kennedy

EPFP Commitment:Monday afternoons

twice a month

Two full days one in fall and one in spring

Pennsylvania TripWashington D.C. Trip

$2,500

EPFPCASECECMAASE

Kathleen Barker

Kathleen.barker@oakland.k12.mi.us

Abby Allen

Abby.allen@oakland.k12.mi.us

Where to get more information: