ABSTRACT
Advocacy and politics cannot be divorced from educational reform. Educators have a duty to speak up and promote evidence based practices, such as Multi-Tiered Systems of Support (MTSS) when they are not happening in their schools, district, or state. Advocacy at various levels of bureaucracy are discussed and entry points to advocacy are offered. The importance of stakeholder networks, building relationship with elected officials, and maintaining contact is emphasized. Messaging in its many forms to address the “why” of individuals or organizations are introduced as is how to show value and resourcefulness. Examples are provided to demonstrate what can happen to an initiative at different points in the policy-making process from petitioning a legislator for a bill draft to having the bill signed into law by the state Governor. Finally, funding sources are detailed including formula, discretionary grant, base, categorical, and dedicated.
