WAEOPP TRIO/PRECOLLEGE DAY
February 19, 2008
This Event Will be RESCHEDULED
for sometime in April/May.

Overview

• Getting an Understanding of the Legislative Process at the State Level
  

  Providing students with a better understanding of how decisions that affect them, their families, and their schools is important at a young age.  An informed/educated person will become an involved citizen.

• Promoting an Involved Citizenry

  Students need to be exposed to the processes available to them to share their opinions and concerns about issues that impact their lives.  Involved Citizens promote policy that reflects the interests of the constituents by communicating with legislatures.

• Communicating With Legislatures

  Students and parents will feel more comfortable with sharing their thoughts about issues if they are provided an opportunity to see the process in action.  After communicating their thoughts/views on issues through letter, fax or email, the next step for an involved citizen is to meet with or visit the representatives.

• Visiting Your State Representatives

  Helping students realize the roles that the representatives have as publically elected officials is not complete unless you also help them realize that their representatives are available and accessable to them.  Demystifying public officials will help our future citizens realize that representatives are eager to talk to constituents about issues and welcome an open discussion.  Constituent views are extremely valuable in the decision making process.   Students and parents need to see the value of the process to become better personal advocates.

• Personal Advocacy

  Providing an insight into the process of sharing concerns and viewpoints will strengthen these students and give them the courage to advocate on behalf of issues that are important to them and their families.  Being able to properly speak on behalf of themselves will help give the future citizens of Wisconsin the tools to be more active and better citizens.

Activities Prior to TRIO/EOP Day

• Civics Lesson on Legislative Process

  Teachers/Group Leaders should take the time to offer lessons/information on the legislative process prior to the TRIO/EOP day visits.  Students should be given the exposure to the ideas listed in the overview so they understand some of the processes available to them to be active citizens.

• Letter Writing

  Teachers, Parents, and students are encouraged to write letters to their representatives thanking them for their lives of public service and to share personal stories of how being in P-5, Title One, Precollege, and/or TRIO Programs has impacted their lives and futures.  The listed programs provide great value to low-income first-generation disadvantaged students to increase skills and motivations needed for postsecondary educational opportunities and it is important for legislatures to know this.  These state funded opportunities and other grant programs, such as the TIP grant and the Wisconsin Higher Education Grant (WHEG), provide so much and will be deeply missed if priorities are changed in these areas of Educational Funding.

• Scheduling Office Visit and Tours

  Teachers/Group Leaders are encouraged to arrange personal office visits and related tours as appropriate.  A link to the Assembly and Senate for Wisconsin is provided from the 'related links' list of links on the front page of the WAEOPP Website at ( www.waeopp.org ).   Office visits that are scheduled should be communicated to WAEOPP so an accurate listing of events can be produced (this will help with future celebration day planning).   Send via email to Donald Singleton, at ( drs2@uwm.edu ).

• Confirmation of Attendance

  To ensure adequate space for the large group presentation by our guest speaker an accurate count of participants needs to be tallied.  Teachers/Group Leaders are asked to communicate via email to Donald Singleton, at ( drs2@uwm.edu ). the following information by February 12, 2008:

  • Full Contact Information of Teacher/Group Leader
  • School & School District -OR- TRIO Program & Institution
  • Number of Participants (Students, Parents and Chaperones)
  • Indication as to participation or non-participation in large group presentation
  • Indication as to participation or non-participation in end of day wrap up and snack
  • Visits and tours arranged as indicated above in "Scheduling Office Visit and Tours"
    (Each staff member is responsible for scheduling tours fortheir respective groups).

• TBA, Capitol Building
• Madison, WI

• Room 412

Room 412

• Room 412, Capitol Building

• Capitol Building
• Madison, WI

• On Your Own
• Lunch certificates will be provided for those students that are confirmed by the 12th.

• Capitol
• Madison, WI

Activities After TRIO/EOP Day

• Each group that visits a representative should send a thank you and summary letter to the person/persons visited.  Please send a copy of this letter to WAEOPP President Nick Ewoldt at 700 College St. Box 137, Beloit, WI 53511.