“Public business, my son, must always be done by somebody. It will be done by somebody or other. If wise men decline it, others will not; if honest men refuse it, others will not.” —John Adams, letter to Thomas Boylston Adams, September 2, 1789
How to Contact Your Legislators
Step One: Find Your Representatives
You have both state and federal legislators. For education policy, your state legislators matter most. Find them, along with any notable bills in your area, using your home address with the USA.gov elected officials finder. You can also track specific education and homeschool-based bills using HSLDA’s Legislative Action Center.
Once you have your legislators’ names, look up their contact page on your state legislature’s official website. One important note: make sure you contact your legislator at their official address or phone number. Official contact information will use a state capitol address, a capital-region area code, and an email ending in .gov.
Step Two: Call or Email
By phone: Calling is one of the most effective methods, especially when there is active legislation you want your legislator to support or oppose. A staff member will most likely answer; their job is to get your message to your legislator. Keep your call brief and to the point, and always make it clear that you are a constituent. Ensure your tone is kind and considerate so that your passion does not outpace your purpose. You can also call simply to ask questions about a bill. Legislative staff are used to explaining bill language to constituents.
By email: Email is a strong option when you want your position on record, feel more confident in expressing yourself in writing, or simply need some extra time to gather your thoughts. Most legislators respond to written correspondence from constituents. Keep it brief, lead with your most important point, and include a specific request.
Use These Scripts
Consider using the templates below as your starting point, particularly for any education-based legislation:
| Legislator’s Position | Phone Script |
|---|---|
| If in opposition to education independence | “Hello, my name is [name], and I am a constituent in [city/county]. I am calling to urge [legislator’s name] to oppose [bill name or number]. As a parent, I believe education decisions belong to families—not the government. Government funding of private education transfers ownership from the family to the state, making something that was private, public, which comes with state regulation and control. Private education is special because it is private. And I want to see genuinely private education remain as an option for families in [state]. I would appreciate knowing the legislator’s position on this bill. Thank you.” |
| If in support of education independence | “Hello, my name is [name], and I am a constituent in [city/county]. I am calling to support [legislator’s name ]’s position to oppose [bill name or number]. As a parent, I believe education decisions belong to families—not the government. Government funding of private education transfers ownership from the family to the state, making something that was private, public. I am grateful that [legislator’s name] also wants to see genuinely private education remain as an option for families in [state]. Thank you.” |
| Legislator’s Position | Email Script |
|---|---|
| If in opposition to education independence | Subject: Please Oppose [Bill Name/Number]—A Constituent’s Concern
Dear [Representative/Senator] [last name], My name is [name], and I am a resident of [city] in your district. I am writing to ask you to oppose [bill name or number]. I believe that parents—not the state—are best positioned to direct the education of their children. Bills like [bill name] that transfer ownership from the family to the state and expand government-funded school choice may appear to help families, but they introduce the kind of government oversight and regulation that threatens true education independence for every family in [state]. Parental rights and independent education are foundational to a free society. I urge you to stand with families by protecting that separation and those rights rather than entangling private and home education with government funding. I would welcome the opportunity to discuss this further. Please feel free to contact me at [email/phone]. Respectfully, |
| If in support of education independence | Subject: Thank You for Supporting Education Independence—A Constituent’s Gratitude
Dear [Representative/Senator] [last name], My name is [name], and I am a resident of [city] in your district. I am writing to thank you for your support of [bill name or number / your position on education independence]. I believe that parents—not the state—are best positioned to direct the education of their children. Your commitment to protecting parental rights and resisting the expansion of government-funded school choice reflects a genuine understanding of what true education independence requires. Bills that entangle private and home education with government funding may appear helpful, but they introduce oversight and regulation that ultimately threaten the freedom of every family in [state]. Parental rights and independent education are foundational to a free society. Thank you for standing with families by preserving that separation and protecting those rights. Respectfully, |
Step Three: Follow Up
After your call or email, consider sending a brief thank-you note to your legislator’s office. Mention something specific that you appreciated about your interaction and thank your legislator for his or her service to your community. It is a small gesture, but it is the type of convicted kindness that leaves a lasting impression and keeps the door open for future conversations.
Contacting Legislators Frequently Asked Questions
What kinds of bills should I be contacting my legislators about?
Education legislation is a great place to start, particularly bills that address parental rights, compulsory education requirements, government-funded school choice programs, or constitutional language around education. But any bill that puts your convictions at stake is worth a call or an email. Tax decisions, business regulations, religious liberty—if it affects your family and your community, your legislator needs to hear from you.
How often should I contact my legislators?
As often as there is something worth saying. You don’t need to reach out on a fixed schedule, but during an active legislative session, that might mean several times a month as new bills move forward. The families who stay in contact across a session, not just at a single moment of crisis, are the ones who build the kind of relationship that makes a legislator take notice.
Do I need to be a policy expert to contact my legislator?
Not at all. The most effective messages aren’t the most technical ones, but rather the most personal. Telling your legislator how a bill affects your children, your community, or your convictions carries more weight than any statistic or policy argument. You don’t need to know everything about a bill or political jargon to go with it. You just need to say why it matters to you.
To learn more about educational issues that may impact your state and how you can converse with your friends, family, and legislators about it, visit the Education Independence website and read our weekly articles!
You Are Not Alone
Contacting your legislators is one of the most practical things you can do to protect education independence in your state. And you do not have to figure it out on your own.
The history of education independence proves that grassroots movements work.
1994 Federal Bill:
In 1994, homeschool families flooded Capitol switchboards opposing a bill that would have required teacher certification, and the bill was quickly defeated.
Virginia SB 1031:
When HSLDA rallied families to contact their senators about Virginia SB 1031—a bill to repeal the state’s homeschool religious exemption—the bill died in committee due to public opposition.
The calls that led to the death of these bills weren’t from paid lobbyists, but rather from parents and concerned constituents like you. When families across a state contact their representatives, especially in large numbers, it signals that education independence is not a fringe issue, but a community-wide conviction.
The Education Independence Network keeps members informed about active legislation in their state, provides timely action alerts, and connects families with the resources and community they need to advocate effectively. Join the Network to stay informed and receive updates throughout legislative seasons.
For additional tools, including our communication templates and policy resources, visit our resources page.
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