GUIDELINES FOR SCHOOL CHOICE PETITION DRIVE

 

Preliminary Announcements:

*      A series of seven inserts are enclosed that you should have printed in your school newsletter and sent home to parents via your school’s regular communication envelope at the beginning of the school year prior to the School Choice Petition Drive.  They will provide parents, faculty and high school students who are 18 years old with background information so that they are prepared to sign the petition.

 

*      Prepare Announcements to be read at all school functions where parents, faculty and high school students who are 18 years old are present emphasizing the importance of signing a School Choice Petition. 

 

*      A poster is enclosed to be hung in a visible place in your school prior to the School Choice Petition Drive.  This will help parents, faculty and high school students who are 18 years old become familiar with the language of the petition.

 

*      The petition itself should be included in your school’s newsletter or regular communication envelope during the first weeks of school along with the Some of the Myths about School Choice information sheet so that parents, faculty and high school students who are 18 years old become familiar with the language of the petition and learn how to dispel the myths that are perpetuated by opponents of school choice.

 

Logistics and Location:

*      Provide open space to accommodate lines of people.

*      Where possible, stay in the school near every entrance/exit.

*      If weather permits, set up tables and chairs on sidewalk by every entrance/exit.

*      If space does not permit either arrangement, move to a convenient nearby area or parking lot.

*      Use long folding tables and a supply of folding chairs so people can sit down to write.

 

Materials:

*      Ballpoint pens (no pencils).

*      Clipboards for folks who can sign the petition while standing or while sitting on chairs.

*      Back issues of newsletters containing School Choice inserts.

*      A supply of petitions, Spanish-version petitions, if applicable, and the Some of the Myths about School Choice information sheets.

    1. Originals can also be downloaded from the New Jersey Catholic Conference website (www.njcathconf.com).
    2. Photocopies can be made from originals included in this mailing. 

 

Personnel:

 

*      The volunteers DO NOT have to be registered voters.

*      Volunteers can include high school students as well as interested parents.

*      Duties of volunteers:

1.    Assist petition signers who are seated at the tables.

2.    Assist petition signers who choose to use clipboards.

3.    Appoint captains to supervise the process for you at your school’s

Back-to-School Night or at other appropriate functions that occur early in the school year, keeping in mind that signed petitions must be returned to the School Coordinator by Tuesday, October 19.

 

 

Who Can Sign Petitions:

 

Any New Jersey resident who is at least 18 years old. 

 

Cautions:

 

*      No one should be pressured to sign the School Choice Petition.

*      Petition signers should only sign their name once.

*      Petition signers should be encouraged to take petitions home for other family members, neighbors, friends, co-workers and high school students who are 18 years old to sign as long as they are returned to the School Coordinator by Tuesday, October 19. 

*      ALL PETITIONS MUST BE RETURNED TO THE SCHOOL COORDINATOR BY TUESDAY, OCTOBER 19.  ON WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 20, SCHOOL COORDINATOR MUST MAIL SIGNED PETITIONS IN THE PRE-ADDRESSED ENVELOPE PROVIDED.  THE DIOCESAN DIRECTOR OF THE NEW JERSEY ALLIANCE OF CATHOLIC SCHOOL FAMILIES WILL CONTACT THE SCHOOL COORDINATOR TO FOLLOW UP IF SIGNED PETITIONS ARE NOT RECEIVED.