Back to School Week: Background Information for Legislator Prior to Visit

Trust for Representative Democracy

America's Legislators Back to School Week

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Background Information for the Legislator Provided by the Instructor Prior to Visit

Instructions for School Official or Instructor: Please complete the following. The information provided will assist the legislator in preparing for his/her visit. If exact figures are not available please make estimates. Please identify estimates with the abbreviation est.

Section 1: About the Class

Title of Class
Number of Students
Grade Level of Class
Instructor

List the top five state and local political issues which students are most interested in (could be compiled from a survey or other means determined by the instructor or class. Possibilities include length of the school year, requirements for driver's licenses, regulations involving abortion, drinking age, seat belt safety requirements, air and water pollution regulations, land set aside for parks and open spaces, student testing requirements, qualifications for teachers, penalties for criminal behavior, location of highways, funding for schools, transportation, health, and social services.)

1. _____________________________________________________________________________________

2. _____________________________________________________________________________________

3. _____________________________________________________________________________________

4. _____________________________________________________________________________________

5. _____________________________________________________________________________________

How was the list above created?

Please list other issues not mentioned above which you would like the legislator to address during the visit.

1. _____________________________________________________________________________________

2. _____________________________________________________________________________________

3. _____________________________________________________________________________________

4. _____________________________________________________________________________________

5. _____________________________________________________________________________________

Section 2: Basic Demographics About the School

School Type (check one): Public___ Private___ Parochial___

School Location (check one): Urban___ Suburban___ Rural___

Percentage of students who are White___ Hispanic___ Black___ Asian___ Native American___ Other___

Percentage of students receiving reduced/free lunch__________

Percentage of special education students_______

Describe the level of parent involvement at your school (could include PTO/PTA activities, volunteer statistics, money raised, etc)

_____________________________________________________________________________________

What educational issues seem to be most important in your school community?

_____________________________________________________________________________________

Posted 9/12/01
Updated 9/09/02

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