Background

• The Governor’s budget was presented on February 6, 2007 to the Pennsylvania General Assembly. The Governor proposed a $75M line item to fund high quality pre-K and now he needs our help!
• Beginning in February both the Pennsylvania House and Senate hold budget hearings to review the Governor’s proposals.
• The House is scheduled to hold a budget hearing on the Department of Education’s budget, including pre-K on March 1. The Senate is scheduled to hold their budget hearing on PDE’s budget on March 5.

In Session
House PDE Appropriation Hearing: 3/1; Senate PDE Appropriation Hearing: 3/5; House & Senate: 3/12, 3/13, 3/14, 3/19, 3/20, 3/21; Senate only: 3/27, 3/27, 3/28

Local Activities:

• If your team has not reached out to your local legislators, do it now! Send introductory information and schedule a meeting.
• Visit district offices of legislators.
• Invite local legislators to visit pre-K programs (and read to the children) during April - the month of the Young Child and specifically the Week of the Young Child 4/22-4/28.
• Identify sites for legislative events (breakfasts) in April and May.
• Report all contact and content of meetings with legislators and media interviews to PPC.
• Phone calls, letters, and visits to local and Harrisburg offices by friends and allies regarding the importance of high quality pre-K.
• Identify parents, grandparents, other family members, kindergarten teachers, other providers, businesses, etc. willing to write letters, make visits, and reach out to their local legislators or newspapers about the importance of investing in pre-K.
• Watch the local newspapers for articles, news stories, op eds and editorials with which you can connect the pre-K message. Send letters to the editor from parents, providers, kindergarten teachers community leaders, letters to legislators supporting pre-K.
• Check www.prektoday.org website for updates and materials.

Campaign Support:

• Pre-K Today Web-site launched!
• Weekly Pre-K Today Monday morning update.
• Distribute Event-in-a-Box to Teams, sample materials such as talking points for visits, local fact sheet template, op eds, letter to the editor, presentation, sample letters of support to legislators.
• Issue briefing paper on Pre-K.
• “Mobilization ideas/TBD” conference call – March 27th.
• Media outreach to targeted outlets.

Background

• Rank and file members of both the House and the Senate will be spending a lot of time over April and May back in their home districts. This is a great opportunity to reach out to them and gain their support.
• Media activity will start to gear up on key budget priorities and that media coverage will gain the attention of legislators as they begin to shift through all the investments proposed in the budget.
• The Week of the Young Child is April 22-28, 2007 www.naeyc.org and provides excellent opportunities to host events and engage media.
• Every contact counts!

In Session
House & Senate: 4/16, 4/17, 4/18, 4/23, 4/24, 4/25; Senate only: 4/30

Local Activities:

• Conduct local legislative events sponsored by Pre K Counts teams in coordination with other ECE groups OR ….
• Visit district offices of legislators.
  
• Schedule meetings with local legislators for Harrisburg Lobby Day on May 8.
• Phone calls, letters, and visits to local and Harrisburg offices by friends and allies regarding the importance of high-quality pre-K.
• Report all contact and content of meetings with legislators and media interviews to PPC.
• Watch the local newspapers for articles, news stories, op eds and editorials with which you can connect the pre-K message. Send letters to the editor from parents, providers, kindergarten teachers community leaders, letters to legislators supporting pre-K.
• Prepare to have local legislators visit pre-K programs and read to children during the Week of the Young Child.
• Pitch media coverage of local legislative events and visits to programs.
• Pitch op eds to local papers to follow news events and stories.
• Check www.prektoday.org website for updates and materials.

Campaign Support:

• Weekly Pre-K Today Monday morning update.
• Editorial board meetings.
• “Mobilization ideas” conference call – Date to be announced.
• Match teams with other ECE advocates for local visits.
• Add content to www.prektoday.org

Background

• Legislative staff and the governor’s team begin to meet to sort out budget priorities.
• House and Senate Republican and Democrat caucuses may introduce their own budget bills and take action on them.
• On May 8, 2007, Pre-K Today will join our colleagues from around the state including early education advocates, Pre K Counts Teams, Community Engagement Groups, QUEST, child care, and Head Start providers to rally in the State Capitol to promote the statewide community support for the Governor’s proposal to invest $75 million in high-quality pre-K.
• Every contact counts!

In Session
Senate only: 5/1, 5/2
House & Senate: 5/7, 5/8,
House only: 5/21, 5/22, 5/23

Local Activities:

• Participate in May 8 ECE Advocacy Day on the Hill in Harrisburg.
  
• Conduct local legislative events sponsored by Pre K Counts teams in coordination with other ECE groups OR ….
• Visit district offices of legislators.
  
• Write letters to legislators supporting pre-K from constituents.
• Phone calls, letters, and visits to local and Harrisburg offices by friends and allies regarding the importance of high-quality pre-K.
• Report all contact and content of meetings with legislators and media interviews to PPC.
• Pitch media coverage of local legislative events and visits to programs.
• Pitch op eds to local papers to follow news events and stories.
• Watch the local newspapers for articles, news stories, op eds and editorials with which you can connect the pre-K message. Send letters to the editor from parents, providers, kindergarten teachers community leaders, letters to legislators supporting pre-K.
• Check www.prektoday.org website for updates and materials.
  

Campaign Support:

• Weekly Pre-K Today Monday morning update.
• “Mobilization ideas” conference call – Date to be announced.
• Accompany teams on visits with legislators in Harrisburg, match teams with other ECE advocates.
• Pitch op eds to targeted newspapers.
• Add content to www.prektoday.org
  

Background

• House and Senate Leadership will work with the Governor to come to agreement on the budget.
• June is the last opportunity to apply any pressure to legislators!!
• June is also a busy time in the General Assembly for other pieces of legislation.
• Every contact counts!

In Session
House & Senate: 6/4, 6/5, 6/6, 6/11, 6/12, 6/13, 6/18, 6/9, 6/20, 6/25, 6/26, 6/27, 6/28, 6/29, 6/30

Local Activities:

• Phone calls, letters, and visits to local and Harrisburg offices.
• Report all contact and content of meetings with legislators and media interviews to PPC.
• Pitch op eds to papers that have yet to publish one.
• Watch the local newspapers for articles, news stories, op eds and editorials with which you can connect the pre-K message. Send letters to the editor from parents, providers, kindergarten teachers community leaders, letters to legislators supporting pre-K.
• Check www.prektoday.org website for updates and materials.
  

Campaign Support:

• Weekly Pre-K Today Monday morning update.
• “Mobilization ideas” conference call – To be announced.
• Match teams with other ECE advocates for local visits.
• Add content to www.prektoday.org
• Notification of final passage of budget.
• Template for thank you note for legislators and governor.