Legislative Action Network

The Office of Catholic Schools (OCS) in the Diocese of Columbus is uniquely positioned in Ohio’s capital city. With offices located a stone’s throw from the Statehouse, where legislators make daily decisions that impact Our Catholic Schools, the OCS has the responsibility to advocate on behalf of the schools, students and families they serve. Important issues that our elected officials debate during each legislative cycle include but are not limited to:

• Religious Liberty
• School Choice
• Alternative Testing
• Transportation
• Student Safety
• Other Regulations

It is imperative that the collective voice of Our Catholic Schools is heard when important decisions are made that affect our school communities. That is why we are building the Office of Catholic Schools Legislative Action Network (OCSLAN). This network encompasses both stakeholders and constituents in our schools. Designated school community leaders, called Legislative Action Leaders (LALs), are actively involved in helping to build the network within their own school community, while also coordinating and engaging in legislative activity at the state level.

OCS Legislative Action Leaders

One or two people from each School Advisory Board (or equivalent) may be chosen to serve as Legislative Action Leaders for their school community. Leaders should:

• Actively engage with their school network and constituents
• Commit to attending training sessions and OCSLAN meetings
• Stay connected to the OCS Government Affairs Director, who oversees the Leaders
• Disseminate information responsibly to school officials, parents, parishioners, and community members
• Provide updates and reports to parent organizations, advisory boards, and parish councils
• Write letters to elected officials
• Participate in Statehouse visits and host legislator school visits
• Help build up a network of parents and interested parties in their community to assist in local legislative action, such as making phone calls to elected officials
• Build a positive relationship with local legislators
• Keep informed of pending legislation that would benefit Catholic education
• Refrain from endorsing or supporting candidates or issues contrary to the Church’s teachings

Legislative Action Leaders are point persons in their school(s). They receive all information from OCS Government Affairs Director (Mary Kettinger) to disseminate throughout their school community via email and other means.

The Flow of Information through the OCSLAN:

Superintendent ¾ Catholic Conference of Ohio

OCS Associate Director for Government Affairs

Legislative Action Leaders

Legislative Action Network (Parents, Parishioners, Community Members)

Role of the OCS Associate Director for Government Affairs

The Director for Government Affairs has the role of working closely with the OCSLAN, directing the Legislative Action Leaders, and providing the following to OCSLAN Leaders:

• Supporting Legislative Action Leaders in their efforts
• Providing training, informational sessions, and answer questions
• Providing information and updates on legislation (including a newsletter or legislative update)
• Providing letter templates
• Coordinating Statehouse visits and meetings
• Assisting in scheduling school legislative tours and visits
• Steering the direction of legislative action for dissemination to local school networks