Are you someone who has an idea for making positive change in your school???
Here are some steps for building an action plan that works:

Be prepared to take your project on:
This involves doing research, identifying the positive impact your project is going to have on your school and educating others. Show leadership and take the initiative!

Create a written proposal for your project:
A written proposal summarizing your ideas for change and your goals is a great way to inform people and build support for your ideas. Be sure to include a few main things: What it is that you want to do, why you believe it is important, and how you think it can realistically be accomplished and how much you think it will cost. Be persuasive and enthusiastic!

Spread the word:
Find teachers and other students who are interested in participating in your cause. Hold a meeting to share your proposal. Post fliers or publish an article about your idea in your school's newspaper. Talk to your student government and other school organizations that would be interested in your project. Start a petition and allow it to circulate at your school. Be the first to sign on!

Meet with your principal:
Meeting with your principal is a great opportunity to present your written proposal and discuss your idea. It is your chance to make your case. Explain why you think your proposal for change would be beneficial to your school. Plan your agenda and go with at least one other person. Be prepared!

Gather support:
Involve parents and other adults in the school community. Ask if a student representative can attend a Parent Teacher Association (PTA) meeting in order to present your written proposal. Attend a School Leadership Team meeting with a small group of students and make a presentation. Try to get support from the school district and superintendent. Send a letter with background information explaining your proposal, and request a meeting. Depending upon the cost and scale of your proposal, the principal, superintendent or PTA may be able to fund or implement it. If not, you will have to continue your advocacy efforts. Be persistant!

Involve your elected officials:
Go to your Community Board and/or City Councilmember. Set up a meeting with your Community Board Chairperson and/or City Councilmember to build support and get help with funding. At this meeting you should discuss why your proposal for change would be beneficial to the school community and realistically how much money or other resources you will need to make it happen. Remember, elected officials want to hear your ideas for positive change!

Don't do it alone:
Be sure to share the work with other students and remember to stay in touch with other supporters to let them know what's going on. Place a couple of responsible students in charge of certain aspects of your proposal: talking to the community, creating fliers, etc. Distribute responsibility and let other students take charge of some tasks. You can't make change alone!

Follow up and don't give up:
Always send a thank you letter to anyone you have met with to discuss your proposal. If you find that any part of your action is being ignored, keep on trying. Make sure to remind your teachers, principals and school district and elected officials that you are still trying to make positive change in your school!