Advocates Get Ready to Champion School Choice in 2025
This fall, the Children’s Education Alliance of Missouri (CEAM) held in-person advocacy training sessions on both sides of the state, hosting events in Kansas City and St. Louis. These two-part training sessions aimed to equip parents with the tools, knowledge, and confidence needed to advocate for educational change and school choice on behalf of their children.
With dedicated parents, community leaders, and school choice advocates from both urban centers gathering to learn and support one another, the training events underscore CEAM’s commitment to empowering families and advancing educational opportunities for Missouri students.
Kansas City Training: Stories and Support for Advocacy
CEAM’s Kansas City training created a supportive environment for parents to connect and share stories about the challenges their children face in schools. Issues like bullying, transportation issues, and navigating complex IEP and 504 plans were discussed. Attendees were encouraged to express their personal experiences, which fostered a sense of community and mutual understanding. The training sessions emphasized the power of storytelling as an advocacy tool, enabling parents to share their experiences effectively with key decision-makers, including legislators and school boards.
Parents found reassurance in connecting with others who shared similar concerns and left the advocacy training sessions with valuable insights, resources, and newfound confidence. One participant captured the spirit of the gathering: “This was my first time at an event like this. I was nervous because I didn’t know anyone, and I wasn’t very familiar with the school choice movement. But now I’m leaving with a better understanding and tools that will really help give my children a better future. I have chills just saying this.”
St. Louis Training: Building Knowledge and Skills for Legislative Advocacy
In St. Louis, CEAM’s advocacy training brought together determined parents eager to advocate for their children’s education. The sessions provided an in-depth overview of the legislative process, explored the roles of the three branches of government, and emphasized the impact of storytelling in advocacy. Parents connected with each other over their shared dreams and personal experiences, engaging in discussions about how to use their voices effectively to change the K-12 education system.
The St. Louis events also provided enriching activities for children, allowing parents to fully immerse themselves in the sessions. At the end of the training, a survey assessing parents’ understanding of the legislative process showed how much knowledge they had gained. Parents left with increased confidence, skills, and a sense of empowerment, expressing deep appreciation for CEAM’s support on their advocacy journey.
Advocates Ready to Champion School Choice in 2025
These two training events in Kansas City and St. Louis underscore CEAM’s mission to support parents as powerful advocates for educational change. By connecting parents, fostering understanding, and providing critical advocacy tools, CEAM is preparing families to make a meaningful impact on the K-12 educational landscape. With the skills and confidence they’ve gained, Missouri parents are poised to become strong voices for school choice, ready to champion education choice in 2025.