JCAA Political Advocacy

JCAA has been a political advocate for our members since 2000. We contract with lobbyists who represent the administrative perspective at the Capitol, have JCAA member representatives who meet regularly with each other and Jeffco legislators, and serve as a member of the District Legislative Forum.

A Value-Added Benefit of JCAA Membership:

JCAA has just completed a Memorandum of Understanding that formalizes our affiliation with the Colorado Association of School Executives (CASE). As such, members of the JCAA Legislative Committee will be able to meet regularly with CASE representatives.

Click here to access the Law Library and most recent Legislative Summary

JCAA Legislative Activity Guidelines & Principles

On February 4, 2000, the JCAA Board of Directors voted unanimously in favor of becoming politically involved, including allocating resources to create a JCAA Legislative Committee and to assess hiring a legislative consultant. The JCAA Legislative Committee was formed and began meeting. In May 2000, JCAA members voted to increase dues, in part to hire a contract lobbyist. The contract lobbyist group of Aponte & Hogan was hired and served from January 2001 to December 2006. In January 2007, JCAA contracted with CASE to serve as our political advocates. In February 2010, JCAA completed a new MOU to further strengthen the JCAA/CASE relationship.

District’s Legislative Forum Steering Committee:

Two JCAA members, approved by the JCAA Board of Directors, serve on the District’s Legislative Forum Steering Committee. These members also serve on the JCAA Legislative Committee.

The District’s Legislative Forum is made up of representatives from the Jeffco Board of Education, JCEA, JCAA, CSEA, and the Jeffco PTA. The group meets regularly during the legislative session to discuss pending legislation and present each group’s position to the Forum in an attempt to reach consensus. Positions shared by the JCAA Forum representatives are the positions adopted by the JCAA Legislative Committee or Core Team. When agreement (4 out of 5 partners match positions) is reached by the Forum representatives, a consensus opinion is adopted and disseminated to the Forum liaison teams.

District’s Legislative Liaison Teams:

Consensus positions adopted by the District’s Legislative Forum Steering Committee are disseminated to Forum liaison teams. Liaison teams, made up of a representative from each of the Legislative Forum’s stakeholder groups are assigned to each Jefferson County legislator. At least one JCAA general level member is assigned to serve on each of the Forum’s legislative liaison teams. These liaison teams meet with their assigned legislators several times during the legislative session to discuss and advocate for Legislative Forum consensus positions. JCAA legislative liaisons may also serve on the JCAA Legislative Committee and/or Core Team.

JCAA Legislative Committee:

JCAA general and emeritus members serve on the JCAA Legislative Committee. Each person is assigned to a Jeffco Legislator. The JCAA Legislative Committee meets biweekly from January through April.

JCAA Lobbyists:

Currently, JCAA works with CASE. Their role is to provide JCAA with representation at the Colorado General Assembly. Essentially, CASE acts as a conduit between JCAA and the legislators by communicating with both on a regular basis and working to influence the outcome of education legislation in a manner consistent with the JCAA policy position. This is done by advising the JCAA Legislative Committee on the Colorado political process and developments with education legislation. CASE participates in the weekly meetings of the Education Lobby Caucus and regularly communicates with lobbyists from other education groups, including the Jeffco School District’s lobbyist.

• Candidates: Out of respect for JCAA’s politically diverse membership, JCAA will remain nonpartisan and will not take positions on candidates or give campaign contributions to candidates. JCAA will assist in or coordinate non-biased information sharing regarding candidate platforms.
• Contributions: JCAA may give money to political groups who are working to support or oppose a specific bill or legislative issue in which JCAA is aligned, including issues voted on in a public election, such as amendments and referendums. Monetary donations must be approved by the JCAA Board of Directors.
• Legislation: Using the JCAA Legislative Guidelines and Principles, the JCAA Legislative Committee and executive director have the right to take positions on legislation on behalf of the membership.

Type of Legislation Addressed:

The JCAA lobbyists and the District’s Legislative Forum representatives will help determine which bills may impact our membership. Key categories to monitor include, but are not limited to bills on:

• school finance and capital improvement;
• the working conditions of administrators, including issues affecting administrator work load such as accountability, testing and assessments, teacher responsibilities, curriculum implementation, and student discipline;
• non-education bills that would affect administrators, such as PERA laws or those that affect our members working in the business side of the district; and
• those bills that impact the JCAA Strategic Plan or the District Strategic Plan.

JCAA members acting on behalf of the association will follow all the guidelines set in the JCAA Decision Making Policy, including the following statement of support for the District: JCAA members are leaders in the Jefferson County School District who, by nature of their position, support the District’s strategic plan and the Board of Education. Therefore, every effort is made to ensure that JCAA decision making is in compliance with District policies. However, since JCAA operates as a professional association and is a separate entity form the District, it essentially serves as a checks and balances arm of the District. In the event the JCAA Board determines that the direction of the District is not in line with the JCAA mission statement or is not in the best interest of our members, the JCAA Board will take action to positively influence the direction of the District.

The JCAA Board of Directors vote to support the District’s Legislative Forum Statement of Principles* which are not adopted until all constituent groups support the statements. In addition to supporting the District’s principles and following the JCAA Decision Making Policy, JCAA believes the following as a general guideline:

• Public education is the foundation of our nation and must be upheld.
• JCAA is an advocate for children, believing that all students can succeed.
• JCAA’s primary stakeholders are the administrators in the Jeffco School District.
• JCAA does not serve as an advocate for individuals or special interest groups.

Decisions are made based on what is best for the membership as a whole.

Identified Purposes of the JCAA Legislative Committee:

• Coordinate and carryout the political and legislative activity of the association.
• Advise the executive director and the JCAA Board of Directors in the matter of hiring and monitoring the performance of the contract lobbyist(s).
• Provide assistance to the JCAA legislative liaisons serving on the District’s Legislative Forum Steering Committee and the JCAA legislative contract lobbyist(s):
• Develop a yearly plan for support, including strategies for communication.
• In their respective roles, the JCAA representatives on the District’s Legislative Forum and the JCAA lobbyists serve to advocate for and share JCAA positions on legislation.
• Become educated regarding specific bills and issues that impact JCAA members, take positions on bills, and help develop action steps to promote JCAA positions:

• JCAA lobbyists will research which bills require serious attention and then inform the Committee in regard to upcoming bills that may affect our membership and how other education institutions and associations are taking positions and why. In addition, individual Committee members will take the initiative to follow key legislation on his/her own or as a group, and the JCAA representatives on the District’s Legislative Forum will help keep the Committee members informed.
• When necessary, the Committee will send out emails to JCAA members summarizing upcoming bills and ask for positions and implications.

• Using the JCAA Legislative Activity Guidelines and Principles, the JCAA Legislative Committee and executive director has the right to take positions on legislation on behalf of the membership.
• Recommend proactive legislation to Jeffco legislators and request their sponsorship.
• Create alternatives or amendments to proposed legislation if necessary.

• Once results are back from members or once the Committee has a common understanding and has taken a position on a bill, the JCAA lobbyist, the JCAA representatives on the District’s Forum, and appointed Committee member(s) may be responsible for one or all of the following:
  • Plan and implement coordinated lobbying or grass roots efforts.
  • Lobby for JCAA positions to legislators.
  • Share with and lobby JCAA positions to the District’s Forum.
  • Testify to the Education Committee and/or make recommendations to the chairman of the Education Committee and his/her staff.
• Educate members regarding legislative issues to foster independent action:
• Provide information which is easy to access, read, and understand.
• Provide a method for responding to information quickly and efficiently.
• Reach beyond the scope of members to teachers, staff, and community.
• Send updates through legislative news briefs to members on a weekly basis via email.
• Submit legislative information to the Messenger and Jeffco Quarterly when appropriate.
• Time Commitment: The JCAA Legislative Committee is an on-going subcommittee of the JCAA Board of Directors and meets monthly during the legislative session between January and May and on an as needed basis when the legislature is not in session.