Educational advocacy is a diverse field. It encompasses both working to reform public and private schools and to impact the public policies that underlie those schools. groups such as the Acton Institute propose reform through morality in education and free market initiatives. Other centers for reform work to enhance the effectiveness of school districts.

Yet despite this diversity of agendas, all such groups bear one key commonality. They are all dedicated to education reform and the success of each is contingent on developing professional capacities that typify best managerial practices. This article shares several recommendations specifically focused on improving operational effectiveness.

Embrace academic professionals

With no small measure of irony, it is a belief among some, that campus practitioners are too closely intertwined to be effective in influencing education public policies. However, these very practitioners train young campus leaders for careers as advocates and grassroots organizers.

The students of such practitioners are outstanding candidates to be inspired as members in the movements to support your education reform cause. And though such students may lack the resources to travel and interact personally with your team, the widespread availability of free conference calling solutions means that efficacious methods of communication through teleconferencing are affordable.

Remain focused

The most effectively managed educational reform groups are ones that stay clearly focused on their mission and do not get enmeshed in peripheral goals. Virtually all educational advocacy groups operate under substantial time constraints. Focusing on four goals with total effort will generally yield superior results compared to going after four goals at one fourth effort.

Increase your network

The most successful educational advocacy groups create networks of supporters who share their values and mission. While the word “networking” often gets a bad connotation, the absolute fact is these networks can provide substantial support and can extend across universities, high schools and elementary programs as well as non academic related institutions. Indeed, they provide the psychological support which is so critical to maintaining enthusiasm amongst group officers and members.

Use technology more strategically

Some educational advocacy groups have far flung leadership teams, and it is difficult to have in person meetings. Conference calling systems can only go so far. One solution is to use an application to allow desktop sharing. Whether it’s sharing a PowerPoint presentation showing the group’s fund raising plan or a spreadsheet showing the performance desktop sharing can be extremely useful for not a few educational advocacy groups.

Collaborate with other environmental advocacy groups

The Charter School movement in The State of California alone has tens of thousands of committed community practitioners who are mobilizing others to seek change.
And in the next few years, there will likely be increasing levels of coordination between geographically diverse environmental advocacy groups. As discussed above one underlying factor is the increasing access to free conference call offerings such as Rondee and other simple to use methods teleconferencing.

The silver lining in all this is that these methods are not costly. Educational reform groups can improve their performance through these techniques.