Advocacy Toolkit

NASPE has brought together these resources that we hope will enhance your advocacy efforts, both at the federal and state levels. These include some basic educational pieces and articles, as well as documents you can print and use as needed.

Strategies Articles: Advocacy in Action

• K-12 and University Partnerships: Bridging the Advocacy Gap
• Physical Education IS Affordable Healthcare
• Move is the Word: Connecting Let's Move in School to National Physical Fitness and Sport Month
• Action Verbs of Advocacy
• Using Neuroscience as the New Front in Physical Education Advocacy
• Using a Report Card as an Advocacy Tool
• Coalition Building and Cultivating New Partners for Physical Education
• School Board Advocacy: Ready, Aim, Inspire!
• Advocating for Quality PE at the Local Level
• Advocacy: Make it a Priority as You Head Back to School 
• Putting the Advocacy Puzzle Together

Physical Education Advocacy Resources

• Physical Education is an Academic Subject [pdf]: This document gives background on what is an academic subject, why PE is an academic subject and why PE should be included in Title IV of ESEA as part of a well-rounded education.
• Reducing School Physical Education Programs is Counter-Productive to Student Health and Learning and to our Nation's Economic Health [pdf]  
• Physical Education Trends in Our Nation's Schools [pdf]: This report highlights the findings from an online survey conducted among physical education teachers in elementary, middle and high schools across the United States. 
• Advocating for Quality Physical Education [pdf]: Use this chart to find position statements, publications and other helpful resources to use in federal, state and local advocacy on behalf of physical education. 
• Information for Parents on Quality Physical Education: Check these links to learn about quality physical education—what it is and whether your school has it!
• Choice or Chance - What's Your Professional Future? [pdf]: Article from the May 2010 issue of PELinks4U, by Steve Jeffries.
• School Health Guidelines to Promote Healthy Eating and Physical Activity: CDC DASH guidelines serve as the foundation for developing, implementing, and evaluating school-based healthy eating and physical activity policies and practices for students.

Federal Advocacy Resources

• NASPE Federal Legislative Roundup 2011 [pdf]: Federal legislation of interest to NASPE members, with links to legislative text and status information.
• NASPE Federal Legislative Roundup 2010 [pdf]: Federal Legislation of interest to NASPE members, with links to legislative text and status information.
• Advocacy Coalitions: List of coalitions with which NASPE works on various legislative and public policy issues, including links to their Web sites.

State Advocacy Resources

• State Obesity and PE Information At a Glance: Links to  summaries of each state's PE information and obesity statistics provided by CDC.
• State Legislative Report (NCPPA) [pdf] : Links to document that lists action on bills at the state level--includes only new bills or bills on which there was action during the reporting period.
• NASPE State Legislative Resource [pdf] : A state by state legislative resource that provides links and related information on state level physical education issues.

Lobby Day Resources

• How to Conduct a Lobby Day [pdf]: Document that clearly explains the steps you can take to plan your own Lobby Day.
• Advocacy 101 Power Point [ppt]: Developed by NASPE Government Relations, this presentation outlines basic advocacy strategies, as well as NASPE's top legislative issues.
• Government 101: List of fundamental "how to's", as well as key U.S. Congressional links.
• Capitol Hill Map [pdf]: Includes layout of each Senate and House office building.