The Knowledge Alliance Approach: Goals, Guidelines, Roles

Overall Approach — We will continue to use and build upon the fundamental grassroots, constituent-driven strategy employed over the past several years. The approach involves an ongoing process of intelligence gathering, information sharing, targeting and positioning, constituent outreach and materials developments. As a small trade association with a cadre of highly experienced government relations specialists in many member organizations, we collectively have a unique capability to adjust to a changing policy environment and activate a broad and diverse base of support from around the country.

2012 Goals (Approved by the Board 12/16/11) — In December of 2011 the Alliance’s Board of Directors approved a three-year, 11- objective workplan for our work as an advoacy program. Relevant excerpts of those goals include:

1. Federal Policy: Expand federal support for the knowledge programs in education in line with our vision for a repositioned R&D infrastructure

• • Appropriations (Three-year  objective)— Increase to $ 1 billion per year federal investments in five priority programs (top priority: CCs, RELs, RD & D. High priority: i3; SIG)
  • Implementation (Three-year  objective)— Ensure the  implementation of important provisions in Education Sciences Reform Act (ESRA) and No Child Left behind Act (NCLB)
  • Legislation (Three-year  objective)— Enable adoption of KA’s recommendations in the reauthorizations of the Elementary and Secondary Education Act (ESEA), and Education Sciences Reform Act (ESRA).

2. Industry Leadership: Build a national support for Alliance’s vision and federal policy agenda

• • Branding and Communications (Three-year  objective)— Generate recognition for the Alliance’s vision, federal policy positions, and policy leadership. (see addendum)
  • Strategic Alliances  (Three-year  objective)— Establish collaborative relationships with key organizations to generate support for the Alliance’s vision and policy positions (see addendum)

3: Organizational Capacity: Expand and diversify the capacity of Knowledge Alliance, the Center for Knowledge Use, and member organizations to ensure long term sustainability, rapid response to market developments, and national impact.

• • Member Capacity Building (Three-year  objective)— Expand Alliance capacity by helping build all members’ capacity to contribute to  advocacy, strategic communications, industry leadership

2012 Guidelines —  Each year we a conducted an annual review as well as DC Days strategy sessions about Knowledge Alliance’s specific tactics and tasks. Based upon this past year’s feedback, we offer the following guidelines for 2012:

• Promote a vision as well as specific positions — The big ideas contained in Knowledge Alliance’s vision for R&D and knowledge use should serve as the framework for promoting our specific positions on high priority issues.
• Make the diversity of Alliance members an asset —  Alliance members as a group vary in size, interests, capabilities and capacities. This diversity should be promoted as an indication of broad support for our priorities.
• Tell constituent- based success stories —  Members of Congress need to know specifically how a particular program successfully serves their constituents. Pictures and stories are key selling points
• Find and nurture champions — A champion is someone who can be called upon in time of need to vigorously protect and/or promote a particular program above and beyond many other programs. A great example of a champion at work was Senator Enzi’s proactive leadership in passing a technical amendment for the regional labs in 2011.
• Get specific commitments of support — It is all too easy for a Congressional staffer to offer general support (eg “My boss really supports the xxx program”). So we need to be sure to ask for a tangible course of action such as signing a Dear Colleague letter or sending a special letter to leadership.
• Think like a member of Congress  — In developing talking points or designing a web page, we should try to anticipate what a member of Congress would want to hear and see rather than solely what a program director or researcher would want to say.
• Keep agile for the short term and plan for the long term — Given the turbulence in the federal policy and political system, we need to remain agile in responding to short term changes (particularly with appropriations) but also steadfast in planning for long term policy opportunities (particularly with ESEA and ESRA reauthorizations).
• Use the power of the crowd — Presenting a united Alliance front to Congress, the Administration and other education groups carries greater influence than members acting alone. We should capitalize on the synergy of our Alliance in our advocacy work.

2012 Roles — The overall approach depends upon a strong mutually supportive working relationship between Knowledge Alliance staff/ consultants and the membership’s designated staff.  Specifically, our respective roles will be as follows:

Knowledge Alliance Staff/Consultants:

• Positions — Propose positions and priorities for approval by PAG and Executive Committee
• Congressional monitoring and action — Monitor and participate when in Hill activities on key knowledge use issues of interest to Knowledge Alliance members, including but not limited to education appropriations and (re)authorization measures (hearings and markups).  Promote the Knowledge Alliance position through staff visits, position statements, sample materials, hearing testimony and any other opportunities.
• Organize Hill activities – Knowledge Alliance will organize four Knowledge Alliance Hill Days.  We will arrange for members’ visits, targeting constituent legislators and arrange group visits with appropriations and authorization committee staff.  Knowledge Alliance will provide materials, develop message (overall Knowledge Alliance R&D message, introductory meeting, focus on appropriations, reauthorization, etc.) and coordinate all activities.  Individual Hill Days can also be arranged for members who are unable to attend one of the quarterly Hill Days, or for those who are in town and would like to make some visits.
• Executive Branch monitoring and action -- Monitor and participate in Departmental implementation issues relative to the No Child Left Behind Act (NCLB) and the Education Sciences Reform Act (ESRA).
• Relationship building -- Establish and maintain close contact with appropriate Hill staff and department personnel. Lobbying activities will be focused principally on Committee staff and staff of committee members.
• Materials and activities – Continue and build on activities with member organizations and professional colleagues, including letters, coalition letters and visits.  Obtain materials (reports, legislative documents) for members.
• Cultivation – Identify, recruit and cultivate champions.
• Assistance -- Assist member organizations in working with their representatives.
• Coalitions — Generate support of other education groups and interests in support of our positions.
• Coordination — Coordinate efforts among Knowledge Alliance member organizations

Knowledge Alliance Member:

• Targeting -- Identify key Members of Congress within district, state or region (with help from Knowledge Alliance staff).
• Relationships — Establish and maintain relationship with constituent Congressional offices; seek commitments for support of Knowledge Alliance priorities.
• Contacts -- Keep Knowledge Alliance staff informed of Hill contacts.  Include Knowledge Alliance staff in visits as appropriate.
• Materials and resources -- Develop materials for Hill and Administration targets that promote the association’s positions based on their own efforts and activities.
• Outreach -- Secure end user support and advocacy for Knowledge Alliance positions and facilitate communications (letters, visits, phone calls) with Members of Congress.
• Implementation -- Monitor and advise Knowledge Alliance on issues relevant to greater association membership.