Kentucky
From LiteracyTentWiki
February 16, 2005
Kentucky is making a strong advocacy effort both at the state and federal levels. During the holidays, our adult learners mailed more than 2000 post cards to our Governor, Lt. Governor, and state legislators. We received tons of positive feedback including letters from the Lt. Governor and several state senators. In addition, we have prepared a sample letter for all 120 adult education providers in Kentucky to use when contacting our legislators in Washington.
Last year Kentucky Association for Adult and Continuing Education's 'Education Cuts Never Heal Campaign' was successful in that it kept Adult Education from being cut as other education programs were. Information about these campaigns is stored at KAACE.org and are in formats that are easily modified for use by anyone. In addition, there is a lesson plan that can be used by classroom teachers to mobilize our adult learners. They are voters and can best speak to the value of adult education for the citizenry.
Please use these resources in any way you need. We would be honored if you do.
Later today I will post the sample letter.
Charlene Brown,
ABE Coordinator
Jefferson County Public Schools
Adult and Continuing Education
Louisville, KY 40215
KENTUCKY ASSOCIATION OF ADULT AND CONTINUING EDUCATION (KAACE) ADVOCACY IN ACTION
Update - March 3, 2005
- STUDENT POSTCARD CAMPAIGN - National Legislators Kentucky Adult Education students are currently participating in a postcard-writing campaign in which they are asking Senator Mitch McConnell, Representative Anne Northup, and their own local representatives to oppose President Bush's proposed cuts to Adult Education and Even Start Funding. As of March 3rd, 1,628 postcards had been reported as having been sent to national legislators. The campaign is still in process, and the number of postcards sent is expected to increase significantly.
- LETTER-WRITING CAMPAIGN - National Legislators Kentucky Adult Education staff and supporters are writing letters to Senator Mitch McConnell, Representative Anne Northup, and other members of Congress. The letters are asking senators and representatives to oppose President Bush's proposed 66% cut of Adult Education funding as well as his proposed elimination of Even Start funding.
- PHONE AND E-MAILING CAMPAIGN - State Legislators When the Kentucky House of Representatives recently sent through a budget that included no increase in Adult Education funding, Kentucky Adult Education staff members mobilized quickly and called and e-mailed members of the Kentucky Senate Appropriations Committee to request a $2.5 million increase in Adult Education funding, which would restore Kentucky Adult Education to its 2001 funding. The budget left the Senate with this proposed increase and is now being reviewed by the Conference Committee. Adult Education staff has once again quickly acted and contacted members of the Conference Committee to urge them to allow this proposed increase to remain.
- HOLIDAY POSTCARD CAMPAIGN Kentucky adult educators embarked upon a "feel-good" campaign to kick off advocacy efforts. As a result, Adult Education students from across Kentucky sent more than 2,075 holiday postcards to key government and education leaders.
- KENTUCKY ADULT EDUCATION TALKING POINTS A series of thorough talking points were created for use in Adult Education advocacy efforts across the state. These talking points feature the newly created slogan and logo, "Adult Education . Absolutely Essential," and were shared with all 120 Kentucky Adult Education programs via the KAACE e-mail distribution list.
- INITIAL STATE LEGISLATOR CONTACT CAMPAIGN Adult educators across Kentucky contacted their elected officials in January and early February, via phone calls, letters, e-mails, and one-on-one meetings. They were working to establish relationships with state legislators while informing them of the benefits of education in general, including Adult Education, to their communities and to the state at large.
Julie Skoskie
jscoskie@adulted.win.net
