Advocacy and the School Board Member
Savvy board of education members understand that effective advocacy is a critical tool for attaining resources for school districts and influencing the legislation and regulations that govern public education.
The New Jersey School Boards Association tirelessly represents the interests of boards in the state before the Legislature, in the regulatory arena and in the courts.
NJSBA also helps boards of education connect with their local legislators and learn strategies to effectively advocate for their own district.
It is in the best interest of school board officials and the larger K-12 public education community to get involved, make connections and build strong relationships with lawmakers, so they can have a voice in decisions that may affect public schools in the future.”
Advocacy Toolkit, School Leader magazine
Advocacy Strategies
How local board of education members can impact legislation and regulations, including tips for addressing legislators.
State-Level Advocacy
NJSBA’s governmental relations department publishes regular updates on pending legislation in the weekly online newsletter, School Board Notes. Check out the latest issue for more information, or read selected articles about recent developments in the state Legislature or the State Board of Education here.
Featured Resources: Videos
Legislative Testimony & News from Previous Legislative Sessions
Below, NJSBA has archived testimony it submitted to the Legislature and news about legislation in previous sessions.
- NJSBA Legislative Testimony (2022-2023 Legislative Session)
- Legislative News (2020-2021 Legislative Session)
Federal Advocacy
Decisions in Washington affect federal program funding, accountability and assessment in our schools. Below are links to two organizations that monitor federal-level issues affecting boards of education.
- National School Boards Association advocacy page.
- Consortium of State School Boards Associations advocacy page.
Before the Courts
On behalf of our state’s local boards of education, NJSBA enters legal cases of statewide significance as amicus or “friend of the court.”
Resources for Advocacy
Access NJSBA’s Advocacy Agenda and sample resolutions and connect with lawmakers in Trenton and Washington.
