How do you become an engaged charter advocate? Start here!
As charter school advocates, we all know the dedication, passion and success our educators and schools provide for families and students across Michigan. Unfortunately, many of our elected and appointed officials do not. As they make decisions about things like student funding, K-12 regulation, testing, and more, it's critical that they hear OUR voices & stories. Here, you can support the MI charter movement with select activations, look up your local lawmakers & more!
To the left, you'll find our legislative engagement tool! This unique program helps connect you with your lawmakers and help take action around key charter issues. Here's a quick breakdown of how to use the tools:
Sending a message to your lawmaker is a great way to advocate for MI charters. Periodically, MAPSA puts together activations that pre-format a message to lawmakers around specific issues like the School Aid Budget and more. Taking action through this system takes just a couple minutes.
You can also use our system to compose a message to your MI state lawmakers, not around any specific issue, whether it's just to introduce yourself or even invite them to your school.
When sharing your story, we suggest you introduce yourself, share your role (parent, teacher, etc.), your school name, and how your school has impacted your student or family's life. When composing the message, here are some resources you can share:
The legislator directory is your one stop for locating you & your school's local lawmakers. You'll want to start with your personal mailing address. Simply input your street address and zip code, and immediately our system will match you with your federal and state elected officials. (While it's great to stay in touch with federal officials, we at MAPSA focus in on state officials - including your State Representative and State Senator.) If you click on one of your lawmakers, you'll see this info:
Once you have YOUR State Representative & Senator, you'll want to look up your SCHOOL'S elected official, as it's very possible that you might live in a different House/Senate district than where your school is located. To do this, simply repeat the above process using your school's address instead of yours.
The media is another key audience that we need to continue building relationships with. Our tool allows you to input your zip code and locate media outlets in your area. Here are some things you may want to share with your local media:
Ready to become a super advocate?! Join our private Facebook group, designed for passionate MI charter stakeholders who want to stay in the loop on key political developments, action opportunities & more.
Request to Join →We've compiled key tips for scheduling school visits, building legislator relationships & more. Join us in the MI Charter Mastermind Network to check out this exclusive guide.
Join the Guide Now →Learn about our events and happening, key programs, and additional opportunities for staying connected with MAPSA and your fellow MI charter advocates.
Learn More →Michigan's Charter School Association
217 S. Grand Ave. Suite 200
Lansing, MI 48933
Ph: (517) 374-9167