IDEA Advocacy Action Team Q & A

IDEA ADVOCACY ACTION TEAM

Q&A

IDEA Public Schools’ Advocacy Action Team is comprised of parent advocates who use their voices and stories to advocate for high-quality public education for all children in Texas. They are family members who are passionate about creating change at local, state, and federal levels.

THE ADVOCACY ACTION TEAM PLAYED A CRITICAL ROLE in ensuring that House Bill 3 provided increased funds for public charter schools, in addition to Independent School Districts. At the start of session, some legislators proposed excluding charter schools from House Bill 3 or cutting certain funding streams. IDEA parents and family members who participated in the Advocacy Action Team met with legislators, made phone calls, sent emails, and wrote letters to share the importance of treating public charter schools equitably.

Last year, the Advocacy Action contacted over 40 state legislators' offices, wrote 100 handwritten letters, sent over 1,500 emails, and made over 600 phone calls to Texas state legislators to advocate for more funding for IDEA and other public charter schools in House Bill 3. Because of our hard work, IDEA will receive $38.5 million dollars from the state to use towards teacher salaries and other important support systems.

We would love to have you join us in any way that you can! Text IDEAMEET to 52886 to receive updates about meetings, our campaigns, and other info.

IDEA EWING HALSELL

WHY DID YOU BECOME INVOLVED WITH IDEA’S ADVOCACY ACTION TEAM? I wanted to become more than an involved parent in the background. I wanted to speak up for my child while providing a voice for all parents. Parents with voices are more powerful than those without.

WHAT POLICY OR LEGISLATIVE ISSUES SHOULD PARENTS BE MOST AWARE OF? Parents should be aware of every policy or piece of legislation that impacts their child’s education — especially those that have a direct impact on the school that their child attends.

HOW HAS IDEA’S ADVOCACY ACTION TEAM HELPED YOU BECOME A MORE ACTIVE MEMBER OF YOUR COMMUNITY? I have always been a person who speaks up for the little guy, and I’ve been known to rebel against things that I feel are wrong or unjust. When I see things that are unfair, I will speak up about it — especially if it’s in schools or the community. Lenton says he hopes to provide a voice for all parents and promote a better education for his son, Michael. 

WHY DO YOU FEEL PARENTS SHOULD TAKE AN ACTIVE ROLE IN EDUCATION ADVOCACY? I think taking an active role in education advocacy should be a parent’s number one priority. No one can be a better advocate for students than a parent. No one knows the needs of a child better than a parent. There may be other parents having the same issues you have who don’t know where to turn for help or how to use their voice to speak up and advocate for the rights that their kids deserve.

HOW HAS SERVING ON THE ADVOCACY ACTION TEAM CHANGED YOUR PERCEPTION OF HOW ADVOCACY EFFECTS CHANGE? Advocacy effects change if it’s done the right way. Before you advocate, you must know your audience in order to effect the change you seek. The key is to find a common middle ground and work out the issue from there. There is always a suitable compromise.

WHAT IS YOUR PROUDEST MOMENT WHILE SERVING ON THE ADVOCACY ACTION TEAM? Every time I advocate for IDEA, it is a proud moment. But I’d say going to a City Council meeting in San Antonio to advocate for funds for our other building on the IDEA Ewing Halsell campus. There was so much opposition from independent school districts, and even some council members who did not support charter schools, so that made advocating even more important to me. After speaking to the mayor and City Council members, the funds were approved. ♦

WHY DID YOU BECOME INVOLVED WITH IDEA’S ADVOCACY ACTION TEAM? Next year I will have three kids attending IDEA. A quality education for all kids is of the utmost importance to me. If there is proactive change that will improve and support student learning, I want to help.

WHAT POLICY OR LEGISLATIVE ISSUES SHOULD PARENTS BE MOST AWARE OF? School districts generally get money from two main sources: local property taxes and state funds. IDEA gets no money from local property taxes to operate. In addition, charter schools like IDEA are often discriminated against and forced to use their limited funds on their own property taxes instead of being exempt like school districts and private schools.

HOW HAS IDEA’S ADVOCACY ACTION TEAM HELPED YOU BECOME A MORE ACTIVE MEMBER OF YOUR COMMUNITY? I’ve had the opportunity to hear the personal stories of other IDEA parents and share my own story. Working together, we can initiate conversations with those that can affect change to better our schools.

Frey works to advocate for her children (pictured from left) Ezekiel, Mac and Phoebe. 

WHY DO YOU FEEL PARENTS SHOULD TAKE AN ACTIVE ROLE IN EDUCATION ADVOCACY? Parents and guardians want what is best for their children. The passion, stamina and perseverance that a parent has for creating a better learning situation for their child is limitless. When you put a team of passionate parents together, results will happen.

HOW HAS SERVING ON THE ADVOCACY ACTION TEAM CHANGED YOUR PERCEPTION OF HOW ADVOCACY EFFECTS CHANGE? It is rewarding to see change happen like when we made phone calls and saw the outcomes during the last legislative session. Due to the work of our advocacy group, IDEA charter schools were included in House Bill 3, creating the opportunity for raises for teachers and support staff as well as more money for the classrooms.

WHAT IS YOUR PROUDEST MOMENT WHILE SERVING ON THE ADVOCACY ACTION TEAM? My proudest moment was feeling confident enough in my own voice and having the information at my hands to help effect change on House Bill 3. Helping to get more funding for IDEA teachers, support staff and administration felt like a huge success. ♦

IDEA WESLACO PIKE

WHY DID YOU BECOME INVOLVED WITH IDEA’S ADVOCACY ACTION TEAM? I became involved in the Advocacy Action Team because I initially had many misconceptions about charters, and after all three of my kids started at IDEA, I began to see the difference the curriculum, the teachers, and even the culture was making in their daily lives. I saw growth academically and personally, and I wanted other parents to experience it as well, so I thought this group would be a good platform to advocate for IDEA.

WHAT POLICY OR LEGISLATIVE ISSUES SHOULD PARENTS BE MOST AWARE OF? Parents don’t realize the difference in government funding that a traditional public school receives versus what public charter schools receive. I was shocked when I realized the size of the gap.

HOW HAS IDEA’S ADVOCACY ACTION TEAM HELPED YOU BECOME A MORE ACTIVE MEMBER OF YOUR COMMUNITY? IDEA’s Advocacy Action Team has really allowed me to advocate for a school system that I strongly believe in. I am better equipped to answer questions about what a charter school is and how they operate. I feel confident discussing the importance of keeping school choice, including charter schools, accessible to families.

As a strong support of IDEA, Hernandez believes her advocacy work will ultimately provide her children, Dylan and Katelyn, with a stronger education. 

WHY DO YOU FEEL PARENTS SHOULD TAKE AN ACTIVE ROLE IN EDUCATION ADVOCACY? I have four children. One graduated from a traditional public school, and one recently graduated from IDEA, and I can tell each of their experiences in high school was different. IDEA prepared my daughter for college, including its financial aspect. Everyone wants what is best for their kids, and if it means changing schools, then as parents, we must do whatever it takes.

HOW HAS SERVING ON THE ADVOCACY ACTION TEAM CHANGED YOUR PERCEPTION OF HOW ADVOCACY EFFECTS CHANGE? I think one always wonders how much impact one person can have. The beauty of having the advocacy group is that there are other parents who also want to work with you to make a difference. Instead of one voice, now you have 10 or 20 all working toward the same goal. We have created a network of voices, not just at my school, but in my city, in my region and in my state.

WHAT IS YOUR PROUDEST MOMENT WHILE SERVING ON THE ADVOCACY ACTION TEAM? The courage to stand up straight when discussing charter schools with others. I have gained a sense of confidence about what a charter school is and how to be able to speak to others on the expectations versus the reality of a charter school. I have spoken with state representatives and community leaders on how important an option like IDEA is — not just to the community but also to my family. ♦