Registration is open for IEA’s annual Lobby Day event Jan. 14-15, when dozens of IEA members from across Idaho talk to key education policymakers about IEA’s legislative priorities.
The two-day event — traditionally held every year around the Martin Luther King, Jr. holiday — is fast becoming Idaho’s most important day of advocacy for public education. It’s the support they need to create the free and equitable public schools that Idaho students deserve.
“IEA members are Idaho’s most important public education experts,” said IEA President Layne McInelly. “Their stories about how state education policy impacts their day-to-day classroom experience and the learning of their students is far and away our most effective way to influence lawmakers.”
Lobby Day participants must be members of IEA’s Political Action Committee for Education (PACE), which includes a minimum of a $24 annual donation or $2 monthly donation to the fund. Due to the popularity of the event, limits on the number of participants is necessary.
Lobby Day festivities begin with a Sunday evening Lobby Day training by IEA staff and leadership, followed by a dinner often attended by education policymakers. Gov. Brad Little, the chairpersons of both the House and Senate education committees and key other legislators are regular attendees.
Then, on Monday, Lobby Day participants fan out in the Statehouse to continue the conversation with lawmakers about IEA’s top legislative priorities.
“Lobby Day makes a huge difference for IEA’s effectiveness in its advocacy for its members and public education — both friend and foe take careful note of our members in the Statehouse corridors,” McInelly said. “If you’d like to have an impact on education policy debates this winter, join us.”
