During 2012-13 Oregon's Career Technical Student Organizations (e.g. DECA, FBLA, SkillsUSA, HOSA, FCCLA) partnered with industry and CTE community to champion the largest increase in state CTE and CTSO funding in history. This overview presented at the DECA State Association Management Conference in Atlanta highlights the advocacy journey, approaches taken, lessons learned and key insights for all who champion important causes like CTE and CTSOs. Additional references: www.oregonctso.org www.twitter.com/oregonctso This presentation was developed and delivered by TeamTRI CEO Ryan Underwood who was also a key contributor among many other amazing CTE champions in this effort.

2. Oregon DECA & CTSO
Advocacy Case Study
Presented by Ryan Underwood

3. Oregon CTSOs:
Setting the Stage
2000-2005
2005-2009
2009-2011
2011-2013
2013-2015
$800,000
$630,000
$520,000
$250,000
$0
Oregon CTSO Historical Funding

4. CTSO Administrative Structure
THEN:
• Oregon Department of Education as
Charter Holder
• Education Service District Charged with
State Association Management
• Board of Advisors

5. CTSO Administrative Structure
NOW:
• Oregon Department of Education as
Charter Holder
• Oregon DECA, Inc.
• Board of Directors hires State Association
Management

6. Coming Together
• 2011 Formed the Oregon
CTE Student Leadership
Foundation
• Coordinate Joint Efforts
• Develop CTSO Partners
• Disseminate $100,000

7. The Call that Changed It All
• State
Representative Jeff
Reardon
• Former SkillsUSA &
DECA Advisor
• Teacher / Industry /
School Board

8. The Call that Changed It All
• “What does great
CTE look like in
other states?”
• Strategy: Use
CTSOs to
showcase great
CTE

9. What would a great CTSO model
look like?
• $5,000 in unrestricted funds at the local
level
• Funded through the OCTESLF
• $50,000 in base administration support to
each CTSO
• Build out 2 new CTSOs (TSA & FEA)

10. Suggested Performance Standards
• Develop annual Program of Work
• 50 Members or 50% of CTE Students
• Participate in 1 Regional/State/Nat’l Event
• 10 Hours of Advisor Professional Development
• Membership in ACTE or Professional Association
• Share 1 lesson plan, activity, or educational exercise

11. “Get Me Something I Can Present
to my Colleagues…”
• Goal
• Issue/Problem
• Proposed Solution
• Has This Been Proposed in a
Previous Session?
• Does this Amend Current Law?

12. “Get Me Something I Can Present
to my Colleagues…”
• Background
• CTSO Education Impact & Benefits
• Financial Request
• Budget to Show How It Would Work
• Projected Results of Implementation
• Important Provisions
• List of all CTSO Competitions

13. The Initial
PITCH
• $3.9 Million for
CTSOs
• 1,400% Increase

14. The Stars Align…
Aligning the Stars
• 14 Page Briefing Paper
called:
“Oregon Plan for Accelerating Applied
Academics Through Statewide Growth and
Achievement through Career Technical
Student Organizations”
• 1 Page Bill Draft called:
• “Oregon CTSO Rejuvenation Bill”

15. Bill Draft
DECLARES EMERGENCY
“This 2013 Act being necessary
for the immediate preservation
of the public peace, health and
safety, an emergency is
declared to exist, and this 2013
Act takes effect July 1, 2013.”

16. “1 Rep Isn’t Enough…” – Building
CTE Support
• Oregon ACTE
• Oregon CTSO Boards
• All Judges & Partners
• CTSO Alumni
• All Local Chapters
• Parents & Community
FFA was used as an example of
what we were trying to achieve.
But, they were not included in the
campaign or a lead advocate.
They opted out of the funding as it
did not fit their strategy.

17. Aligning the Stars…
“You Need a CTSO Intern”

18. HB 2985
• CTSO
Rejuvenation Bill
• 20 co-sponsors
• Bi-Partisan
• Jeff Reardon (D)
• John Davis (R)

19. CTE/CTSO Proclamation
• Governor Kitzhaber

20. Joint
Website
• OregonCTSO.org
• Featured
Proclamation
• CTSO Impact
• @OregonCTSO
• Bill Information

21. Hearings, Testimony, and
Sustaining the Campaign
• House Education Committee Hearing
• House Ways & Means
• Ground Game
• Testimony Campaign

22. The Actual
PITCH
• $2.73 Million for
CTSOs
• 992% Increase

23. Testimonials

24. Testimonials

25. Testimonials

26. Testimonials

27. Tools of the Trade

28. @OregonCTSO

29. Twitter Campaign
• After Each Testimonial Came In
• Individual Thanks to Each Bill Sponsor
• Members of Committees
• Good News from Each CTSO
• Pictures of Students with Legislators
• Factoids from the Original Brief
• RT & Amplification

30. Tweets

31. Tweets

32. Twitter Photo Campaign

33. Twitter Photo Campaign

34. Twitter Photo Campaign

35. Twitter Photo Campaign

36. Twitter Photo Campaign

37. Twitter Photo Campaign

38. Twitter Photo Campaign

39. “Sausage Making”
• Flexibility and Fallback Position
• Changing Course & Joining Forces
[HB2985 merges into SB498 & HB2912]
• CTE & CTSOs Together

40. The Final
PITCH
• $1.7 Million for
CTSOs
• 600% Increase
• $10 million for CTE

41. Victory! Victory?
• State Economist $300 million projection
• Unanimous Passage in House & Senate
(Technically)
• Post Advocacy (How do we really make
this work?)

42. 8/14/13 @GovKitz Signed!

43. Oregon CTE Rejuvenation Bill
Becomes Law!

44. Make It Count Advocacy Lessons
• Working Together Counts
• Nationals Counts
• Alumni & Stakeholders Count
• Social Media Counts
• Pictures & Stories Count
• Being Ready & Being On It Counts
• State Legislature Counts

45. DECA Advocacy Exercise
• What would your association do if you
suddenly came into $250,000?
• What would your association do if you
found out you were losing $250,000?
• What decisions/action do you need to
make now to prepare for either situation?

46. Final Thoughts…
• You Can Make It Count Too!
• More Resources:
– Web Coordinates:
www.oregonctso.org
– Email: ryan@teamtri.com