KS EPLP | Meeting Four Planning & Logistical Reminders

Kansas EPLP Fellows,

Happy New Year! We look forward to seeing everyone again as we continue the 2025-26 cohort of the Kansas Education Policy Leadership Program. The January meeting will take place on Wednesday, January 7th. It will be the first time you (EPLP Fellows) are back together after a long sabbatical that began in early November. To date, program agendas have focused on understanding state and national policy, legislation, and political environments. In January we will expand the scope of our focus by preparing for state-level meetings with elected officials. The agenda will feature (1) a conversation with former state legislators (2) workshop activities in advance of the Kansas Legislative Summit, and (3) a planning and logistical conversation focused on travel questions in advance of the Kansas and Washington Legislative Summits.

The Kansas Legislative Summit workshop will be a change of pace for the program as we begin incorporating more time into the agendas for you to work with your colleagues in advance of meetings with elected officials. We'll set aside time at the January meeting for each of you to declare what your official state-level policy or legislative priorities and "asks" are. We'll identify your state-level meeting targets. We'll provide you with issue background document templates, scripts, and other resources to help you prepare for your in-person meetings. Finally, we'll go over the logistical details of the Kansas Legislative Summit to help you make individual travel plans. 

As a cohort, we've invested a lot of time in understanding the policy landscape at the local, state, and federal levels. We hope you're excited to begin the action piece of the program going forward. Please find below specific calls to action and planning information in advance of the fourth meeting.

Part One - - Calls to Action

-- Personal & Professional Announcements: This is your third opportunity to update the cohort on milestones and events happening in your personal lives, professional lives, and important events taking place at your institutions. If you would like to share with the cohort this month, please respond to this email. If you have pictures or media, please forward it to me so that I can put it in the PowerPoint slide deck.

Note & polite reminder: The earlier you can get me your updates, the better! Please try to avoid sending them in the night before the meeting if possible. 

-- Policy & Legislation: During the October meeting, Fellows completed a SurveyMonkey tool that requested state-level policy and legislative priorities for the 2026 legislative session. Most of you responded to the SurveyMonkey during the meeting. If you have not answered, please consider this question again and make sure to have your policy and legislative responses ready in advance of the January meeting. Please note that the SurveyMonkey tool has been closed. Additionally, please find attached an Excel file with the cohort's aggregate policy / legislation priority responses that were collected during the October meeting. We will use this data during the workshop session of the agenda.

-- State House of Representatives Districts: At the January meeting, we will ask you to identify your state-level House representation. We will use this data during the workshop session of the agenda. We will also ask you to contact these individuals post-EPLP meeting to request an in-person meeting while in Topeka. Please research who represents your home and work addresses, as well as any other addresses that you may call your own. 

-- State Senate Districts: We will also ask you to identify your state-level Senate representation. We will use this data during the workshop session of the agenda. We will ask you to contact these individuals post-EPLP meeting to request an in-person meeting while in Topeka. Please research who represents your home and work addresses, as well as any other addresses that you may call your own.

-- Questions: Please direct any questions you have in advance of the fourth meeting to Tyson Elbert via email, phone, or text. 

Part Two - - Planning & Logistical Information

-- Meeting Date: The fourth meeting of the Kansas EPLP Program will be held on Wednesday, January 7th, 2026.

-- Meeting Beginning & Ending Times: The meeting will begin at 10:00 am and conclude no later than 4:00 pm. Please make sure to plan accordingly and arrive in advance of 10:00 am.

-- Meeting Location: The meeting will take place at JE Dunn Construction located at 1001 Locust Street, Kansas City, MO 64106. We will be meeting in the Crown Center Room located on the First Floor.

-- Parking Instructions: Parking is available at no cost. Please park in the attached garage located next to the JE Dunn offices. Pull into the circle drive from 10th Street and take a ticket as you enter the parking garage. Take a right inside the garage and you’ll see visitor parking on your left and right. Make sure to bring your ticket in with you and JE Dunn will validate it at the front desk.

-- Attendance: In-person attendance is mandatory.

-- Meals & Refreshments: Lunch and refreshments will be provided at the meeting. Please consider bringing personal snacks and drinks as needed. 

-- Meeting Dress: EPLP meetings are a mixture of speakers, panel discussions, and group activities. Outside of group work, you’ll be sitting for most agenda items. We recommend business casual dress with a priority given to comfort. The thermometer is out of our control; please consider bringing layers if you get cold easily. 

-- Name Badges: Bring and wear your name badges so that we can continue the process of learning everyone’s name, position, and institution. 

Again, if you have questions as the fourth meeting date approaches, please don’t hesitate to call or text me at (202) 550-4868. You may also email me at tyson@advocacybuild.com. 

Sincerely,

Tyson Elbert