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PAT members setting up to gather in front of Portland school in 2023

March 19 Participant Toolkit

Walk-In to Protect Our Students and Families
On Wednesday, March 19, our communities will walk into our schools together to show elected leaders that we are united in support for the programs and protections our communities need to thrive.

Background Information

Walk-In to Protect Our Students and Families

Students with disabilities and students from low-income families deserve every opportunity to reach their full potential, but their future is at risk from cuts to programs that every student depends on.

On Wednesday, March 19th, join neighbors, leaders, and families like yours to make a powerful statement about what’s important to our community as the National Education Association and tens of thousands of educators, students, parents and community allies are mobilize across the country to protect our public schools.

What Are Walk-Ins?

Walk-ins are a type of collective action that can be used to show the power of the people who make our public schools and communities possible.

Walk-ins are positive actions that build solidarity among our neighbors and school employees as they feel the power of collective action without risking retaliation. Walk-ins build relationships. 

During school walk-ins, parents, educators and students, along with neighbors and community leaders, gather in front of their school 30-45 minutes before the school day begins.

We rally and listen to a few speakers discuss what they want for the school, and then we all walk into the school together. Walk-ins can be used to celebrate your school, collaborate with school officials or protest harmful school conditions and policies. 

On March 19th, the National School Walk-in will show lawmakers that we are united in our demand to protect our schools and our communities.

NEA is encouraging our state affiliates to join in spreading the message about these walk-ins so together we can help protect our public schools, students and families. 

Walk-ins build power. Walk-ins build hope.

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A participant in the crowd at the 2024 Protect Public Schools rally holds a sign that reads  "Public schools are the heart of the community."

Register to Join or Host a Walk-In

Check to see if there is a walk-in happening in your local community. If there isn’t one planned yet, consider hosting one yourself! We have lots of resources designed to help your walk-in succeed, from a sample program to sample promotional content.

Spread the Word

Spread the Word

Our message gets more powerful with each additional person who joins us. Use these tools to spread the word about the national walk-in and invite your networks to get involved!

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Key Talking Points

Together, we protect our students and our families. We won’t let anyone hurt our public schools by dismantling the Department of Education and stealing opportunities from our families. We won’t pay the price for billionaires’ tax cuts.
Each individual city will also have its own local focus, such as support for schools that serve lower-income families through Title I, support for students with disabilities, and support for students who plan to attend career training or 2- or 4-year colleges. In each city, organizers can tailor the walk-ins to address their schools’ most important issues.
Will you join us? Check out our map to find a school walk-in near you or sign up to host your own! For more information, check out nea.org/march19, or email NEA at [email protected].

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Sample Campaign Copy

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Social Media Posts
  • Instagram: On March 19, educators, students, parents, and our allies are coming together to share a message of unity. We will walk hand in hand into our schools to remind elected leaders that we will protect our students and defend our public schools. Will you join us? Click the link in our bio to find a walk-in near you or host your own.   [Add Graphic from Gallery Below]
  • Facebook: On March 19, communities across the country are hosting school walk-ins to remind elected leaders that we are united in our support for students and public schools. Help us share this powerful message by joining an event near you or by signing up to host your own: nea.org/March19
  • Bluesky/Threads/Other: When educators, students, families, and community members come together, there is nothing we cannot achieve. Join us to protect students and families on March 19 by attending or hosting a “walk-in” at your local school: nea.org/March19
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Sample Email

Subject Line: Join us: Walk-in and speak up with us at [school name] on March 19th

Body:  

FirstName/Friend,  

America's students need more opportunities to succeed, and we need to strengthen our public schools where 90% of students - and 95% of students with disabilities - learn.  And American families need community programs and resources to thrive.   

We know that Donald Trump is letting Elon Musk, and his billionaire friends raid public education funding and programs like Medicaid to fund their tax cuts. But we will pay the bill.   

On March 19, educators, students, parents, and our allies are coming together to share a message of unity. We will walk hand in hand into our schools to remind elected leaders that we will protect our students and defend our public schools. [Will you join us? Find a school walk-in in your community or host your own!]  

<Register Here>  

Our elected leaders will be returning to their districts as Congress goes on recess. Now is the time to send a message: their decisions in Washington D.C. matter here at home.   

Whether you are joining an existing walk-in or hosting your own, we have tools to help you every step of the way. [Find planning guides, communications toolkits, and more at nea.org/March19.]  

We know our communities are united in support of our students, schools, and each other. On March 19, let’s remind our leaders that we are in this together.  

In solidarity, 

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Sample Hustle/SMS Script
  • SCRIPT: Hi <Member Name>, this is <Organizer Name> with <Affiliate Name>! We’re hosting a school walk-in on March 19 at [Location]. Will you join us? Reply STOP to quit
  • IF YES: Great! Please RSVP to let us know you plan to attend here:! <Link> 
  • IF NO: I understand, <Member Name>. Thanks for your time!

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A picture of picketers during the 2020 St. Paul strike; the camera is focused on a small on their grown up's shoulders; just behind them there are signs that say 'time to use our outside voice' and 'our schools our kids our future'

Event Planning Kit

Event Planning Kit 

So, you’ve decided to host a school walk-in! Thank you for using your time and energy to advocate for our students and public schools.  

The power of the walk-in comes from educators, parents, students and community members all walking into school together. That means working together from the start to plan the walk-in. Use the steps and questions below to guide your planning for the walk-in on March 19.   

Have questions? Contact [email protected].

Press Outreach

Reach out to reporters and media outlets. Ask them to cover your event and share the stories.
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Before the event
  • Build your media list: Make sure to include daily newspapers, local TV and radio stations —as well as weeklies like neighborhood papers, online outlets, and publications that reach specific audiences. 
  • If you aren’t sure who from a media outlet to reach out to —look for an editor or news desk to contact.  
  • Send your media advisory to your local media (use this sample press advisory). This informs reporters about your event and gives them all the details needed to cover it.  
  • Identify 3-4 spokespeople who can be available to speak to reporters. 
  • These should include leaders, educators, nurses, community leaders, parents, and students. Spokespeople should be people who are comfortable seeing their names printed or being featured on camera while telling their personal stories.  
  • While you should expect that the media will speak to others who attend the event, most media appreciate having a few people who are ready and able to speak.  
  • Assign a point of contact for media, who can answer logistics questions, and greet media at the event. Ideally this would be someone who is not part of any speaking program.
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At the event
  • The media contact should introduce themselves to reporters who come to the event and let the media know that you have some folks who are comfortable speaking to the media.
  • Take note of which reporters and media outlets showed up to cover the event to ensure that you know where to look for coverage after the event.
  • Take pictures and video of the event. With newsrooms stretched very thin, outlets might not be able to send a reporter to the event but might be willing to cover it if you submit photos and or video of the event.
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After the event
  • Contact any outlets that did not make it to cover the event, letting them know you understand they couldn’t make it, but you would be happy to connect them with community members (your identified spokespeople) and send them photos/video, while encouraging them to cover the event given the importance of it to your community.
  • Write letters to the editor for local papers, echoing the key messages from the event.
crowd at a rally during the PAT 2023 strike; camera is focused on a member of the crowd with a sign that reads 'our schools power'

What's Next

What's Next

On March 19 we will send a powerful message of unity to elected leaders across the country. But the work doesn’t stop there!
Rally picture

Protect Our Schools

We are coming together to protect public schools. Use our resources to learn more and take action.
union bulletin banner

Union Organizing

We all have a part to play in keeping the union strong! Use our virtual union bulletin board to learn about and get involved with your union.
Flags being waved in front of the US Capitol

Legislative Action

We need to hold our elected leaders accountable to our communities. And we need your help to make it happen.

Our Partners

Our Partners

We know that our strength is in NEA members and our community. That is why we are working with a wide range of partners to ensure our message is heard loud and clear on March 19.
AFT logo

American Federation of Teachers

CPD logo

Center for Popular Democracy

SEIU logo

Service Employees International Union

Protect Public Schools

Educators and parents know that America's students need us to strengthen public schools. Use our resources to learn more and take action protect public schools.
Becky Pringle at an immigration rally with a bullhorn

Launch Your Own Campaign

Use our issue-based communications toolkits to spread the word about the movement to protect our students, public schools, and each other, as well as the actions we can take to stand up for students, educators, and our communities.
National Education Association logo

Great public schools for every student

The National Education Association (NEA), the nation's largest professional employee organization, is committed to advancing the cause of public education. NEA's 3 million members work at every level of education—from pre-school to university graduate programs. NEA has affiliate organizations in every state and in more than 14,000 communities across the United States.