Support the Success in the Middle Act
Senate bill S.2227 and House bill H.R. 3406
What you can do:
Telephone and/or e-mail your congressman. Visit www.congress.org to find the contact information for your congressional members. It includes telephone numbers, and also gives you the ability to send an e-mail through an online form.
Tips for calling your federal congressional representative(s)
Call the congressman's office and ask to speak with the individual who deals with education issues and/or NCLB. Be prepared to leave a message.
In your message,
- Identify yourself with your name, school, city, county, and your phone number.
- State you are calling to encourage the (senator/representative) to support The Success in the Middle Act, (Senate bill 2227/House bill 3406). This legislation amends the No Child Left Behind Act, providing grants to states to help ensure that ALL students exit the middle grades prepared for success in high school with an academically rigorous curriculum that prepares students for post secondary education and the workplace.
- Use the key facts sheet (listed below under Supplemental Resources) to share a few additional highlights of the bill. Give a personal example of what this act would mean for your school.
- Ask for support, "We need your support. What does the Congressman need to support this act? Would the Congressman co-sponsor the legislation?"
- Offer to send supporting materials to the staff person to share with the congressman. Ask for the staffer's e-mail address and forward the coalition letter (customized for your state organization), the key facts sheet, and/or the Missing the Middle chart (listed below under Supplemental Resources).
- Thank the staffer for their time and volunteer to be a source for them when they are seeking feedback from home.
Tips for e-mailing your federal congressional representative(s)
Visit www.congress.org and:
- Input your ZIP code in the box in the upper left corner
- Select the member of Congress you wish to contact
- Click on the "Contact" tab and then click "Web form"
- Scroll to the bottom of the list and select "Compose your own letter"
- Fill in the form either with a personal letter or copy and paste the coalition letter into the space.
- "Send message"
Supplemental Resources—to share with congressional staffers and to expand your own knowledge
Key facts for S.2227
Key facts for H.R. 3406
Chart—"The Missing Middle"
Coalition letter of support—sample for you to customize to your member of congress