LifeLong Learning - San Marcos
Come Learn with Us!

Thank you, Stephanie, for the time you shared with us explaining how the Texas Legislature functions and strategies to advocate for our positions. I learned much more than I expected when I registered for the course. The complicated information you provided was well organized and easy to understand. I hope I can do the same when attempting to communicate with members of our legislature. ~ Patie Anne Alba, April 2026

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Course Description

The Texas Legislature will convene in January 2027, and interim committees are currently studying a host of issues, including childcare, artificial intelligence, indigent defense funding, healthcare, food access, gun violence, affordable housing, flood mitigation, and data centers.

 

Most policymakers deeply appreciate thoughtful, constructive communication from their constituents, which can break through the noise of lobbyists and special interest groups. To effectively communicate your ideas to legislators it is critical to understand the political and policy-making environment in which they work, what information is most helpful to them and how best to present it, and strategies for making sure you are heard.

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While this course will focus on the upcoming Legislative session, these strategies are applicable and effective for all policymakers and policy-making bodies.

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• Session 1 – Strategic insights into politics and the policy-making process to help frame your approach to presenting your ideas.

• Session 2 – Information on the organization and workings of the Texas Legislature as well as tools for research and bill tracking.

• Session 3 – Specific framework for crafting communications to policymakers as well as strategies to amplify your voice by partnering with others.

 

Instructor: Stephanie Korcheck

As the policy analyst for the Texas Senate Education Committee from 1992-1996, Stephanie assisted in drafting and negotiating legislation creating the state’s public school accountability and finance systems in 1993 and rewriting the entire Texas Education Code in 1995. She then helped launch the State Board for Educator Certification, serving as its director of policy and planning.

 

At Texas State University, Stephanie taught in the principal preparation program, developing and teaching a course on politics, policymaking, education law, and the school finance and accountability systems. She also served as the College of Education’s Research Coordinator for Proposal Development, supporting faculty members in securing funding for their research.