We missed you last week, GLSENeers!
You may have noticed, we didn’t send out our Inclusive Policy Postcard last Saturday. That’s because we were hard at a hugely successful Arizona School Boards Association / Arizona School Administrators Conference, followed by some amazing strategic planning with our GLSEN AZ team.
Read on in this edition of your Inclusive Policy Postcard for a recap of the ASBA / ASA Conference, reminders about how to prepare for the new state legislative session in January, and a roundup of local and national news!
DID YOU KNOW?: RISING UP FOR LGBTQ+ STUDENTS AT ASBA / ASA CONFERENCE!
We were pleased to be a first-time exhibitor at the ASBA / ASA Conference last week, where we encouraged school board members and school administrators to Rise Up in support of LGBTQ+ students in Arizona’s schools. We connected with dozens of supportive attendees from across the state, including many who are serving on their boards for the very first time or who serve in rural districts.
Here are some key takeaways, as we look to continue expanding our district-level work in the coming year:
You are not alone as a school board member wanting to advance inclusion and equity in your district, and continue to explore ways of bringing school board members together to share strategies and best practices.
Many school boards are already doing or starting to do amazing work, even if it isn’t what we read about in the local news.
There are so many ways, big and small, for school boards to support LGBTQ+ students, particularly queer and trans immigrant students, students of color, and students with disabilities. GLSEN will continue to share ideas with affirming school board members and provide helpful resources.
We’re as eager to connect with you as you are to connect with us, and we’ve already begun the process of scheduling calls to keep the conversation going in 2024.
If you are a school board member – or if you’re someone close to a school board member – please reach out to us at policy@glsenarizona.org. We’d love to learn about your board and district and include you in this critical local work!
CALL TO ACTION: HOW TO PREPARE FOR THE NEW LEGISLATIVE SESSION IN JANUARY
With 2023 coming to a close and the 2024 legislative session starting up again in early January, here are 3 important actions Arizonans can be taking now to prepare:
Make sure you’re registered for the legislature’s Request to Speak (RTS) system, which allows you to take positions on bills (for vs. against) and sign up to testify during legislative committee hearings. See guidance from the ACLU and get additional support from Civic Engagement Beyond Voting (CEBV).
Review GLSEN’s Public Policy Agenda for more information about our federal, state, and local priorities.
Encourage friends, family members, classmates, teachers, coworkers, and anyone else in your life to sign up and start receiving updates from GLSEN Arizona, like our Inclusive Policy Postcard!
IN THE NEWS:
Task force: Pay teachers more and provide support or they’ll keep quitting. Read more.
Arizona Education Association president says $10K raise needed for teachers as task force wraps up. Learn more.
Tom Horne says current laws should be modified to allow retired law enforcement to serve as school resource officers. Read more.
Arizona School Boards Association executive director resigns. Learn more.