Adam Giery, Partner with Strategos Group, a national consulting firm specializing in technology and education, routinely interfaces with school district leaders, education companies and policy makers. Giery provides strategic insights to companies and school districts as they attempt to understand and navigate both current and proposed legislation.
According to Giery, “Education companies founded on disruption seeking to meaningfully engage in the legislative process forgo their creativity and undertake a traditional legislative engagement plan: meetings, follow up, more meetings. While a basic tenet of advocacy, it can be a low value transaction for both the organization and legislative leader.”
He added that organizations should be asking one question: “What is the value in government advocacy? As in, ‘how can our organization create value for the political process and what can we yield from our dutiful work?’ Inserting your expertise to improve a core function of education creates better policy, develops a deeper understanding by both parties, and potentially a new opportunity for your organization.”
The organizations that prove to be most effective are those that actively engage in the design and development of policy. Giery believes that this intentional approach creates superior public policy and a market edge for organizations bold enough to engage. District leaders find themselves in much the same position as edtech companies, trying to establish a comprehensive and persistent path of engagement with policymakers.