by Elizabeth Pinkerton
Revised January 2012

A - APPOINTMENT: Make your appointments with your members of Congress BEFORE you leave for Washington DC. Even though you can always walk in and talk to someone, your chances of seeing the right person (such as the staff person who handles education) will be much better if you let folks know you are going to be there. Your purpose in visiting your representative is to inform him/her about federal education programs in your district and how ESEA has been implemented. B - BUILDINGS: There are a lot of buildings on both sides of the Capitol. The Metro system is wonderful, and Union Station is very close to the Capitol. The National Mall with all the Smithsonian museums stretches out in front of the Capitol toward the Washington Monument. (p.s. …. The Mall is NOT a shopping Mall!) C - CAPITOL HILL: It really is a HILL. The Capitol is in the middle between the House and Senate office buildings. The Supreme Court is right behind the Capitol. D - DO’S & DON’TS: Be polite and respectful, and don’t talk too much. State your positions clearly on what is happening in your district. Don’t argue. Don’t be rude. Don’t make a big issue out of something that is dear to the heart of your legislator. And most important of all…………….DO NOT LOBBY!! THAT IS NOT YOUR ROLE AT ALL! E - ELECTION: Education issues surface during election time. Do your homework and know what the issues are in your district. F - FOLLOW UP: When you get back home, send a thank you letter to show your appreciation. Send a copy to your superintendent and maybe something for your local newspaper. Have a photo taken with your legislator and send it to your local newspaper when you get home. G - GOAL: Have goals for what you want to accomplish in the few days you will be in Washington. Keep your visits to legislators high on the list to communicate your district’s goals and concerns for students. H - HOMEWORK: Find out as much as you can about your representatives before you get to DC. What are their current issues? What is important to these folks who represent you? I - INFORMATION: : Bring information about your district—statistics, good news, pictures, and news stories. You might even want to bring your legislator a resolution from your Board of Education. J - JEWEL: Our system of government is a jewel, and we have the best one in of the world. K - KEEP IT SIMPLE: Always keep advertising in mind—make your message easy to understand and easy to remember! L - LOBBYING: What is lobbying? The term is defined as attempts to influence legislators about legislation, promoting projects for future legislation, and trying to sway legislators toward specific action. You are NOT a lobbyist! If your salary is paid even partly from federal funds, you must totally avoid any semblance of lobbying. Do not talk about money or changes you think need to be in the laws. Talk about programs and their effectiveness in your district from your experiences. M - MAP: Be sure to have a map so that you know where you are going. Don’t be confused by the various office buildings—the Senate is on the north side of the Capitol and the House is on the south side. Pay attention to NW and SW as compared to NE and SE on the street names. There is a reason for them. When in doubt, ask. N - NCLB: It is time to get rid of the acronym because everything is focused on ESEA right now. The Elementary and Secondary Education Act should be your number one topic of conversation because reauthorization will take place. We don’t know when—but it will happen. Talk about how the present law is being implemented in your district and how students are being supported. O - ON TIME: If your appointment is at 2:00, give yourself enough time to get there at least 15 minutes early. There is no excuse for being late, so be on time! Do not expect a three hour visit. If you are well prepared, you can get a lot done in 10-30 minutes. P - PREPARATION: Know what you want to say and talk about. Come prepared with facts about your district and how the students in your district are affected by federal education programs. Q - QUESTIONS: Ask your legislator questions about her/his views on certain aspects of education. The legislator is representing you and/or the families in your district. R - RELAX: Don’t be nervous, scared, or intimidated. These folks work for you. Always be respectful. S - SUCCESS STORIES: You can’t beat this one. Tell your representatives about the good things that are happening in your schools. Bring evidence of your success stories – data, charts, photographs. Lawmakers want to know that what they put in place for you and your district is making a difference. T - TOUR: There are many tours to take in our nation’s capital, but the most important one is the tour of the Capitol. U - UNDERSTAND: There is much learning that needs to take place to understand about our government and how it works. IF you are fuzzy on some items, look them up so that you know what you are talking about. V - VISION: Be prepared to help your legislator develop a vision for education in the coming months. Education issues are NOT at the top of every legislator’s priority list. Do your part to make sure that Education is part of everyone’s Vision for the Future.. W - WASHINGTON DC: It’s our nation’s capital, and sometimes it seems that this city is the center of the universe. Just think of the history here, and springtime is when the tulips and cherry blossoms show their splendor for us. Enjoy your visit to DC! X - EXIT: Know when to leave, but make sure that you leave your X with your legislators—your business card and how to contact you for additional information! Y - YOU: This visit is not about YOU, so don’t have your feelings hurt if you meet with a legislative staffer instead of the member of Congress because that is most likely who you will meet with. A staffer usually knows what is going on, and he/she often has a lot of influence with the legislator. Treat these folks with respect just as you would the Senator or Representative. Z - ZOO: Is Washington a zoo? If you think it is, remember it is your Zoo, so any changes are up to you and your fellow voters! See you in Washington DC..........