Pass a resolution
How to pass a School Board Climate Action Resolution:
1. Go online and find your school board members’ email addresses on your school district’s website.
2. Use the Model School Board Resolution to draft a climate action resolution for your school board to pass. Be sure to personalize the resolution with information specific to your school district. Do some research on the policies already in place in your district. Remember that a school board is more likely to pass a resolution if a student group within the district has already passed one, so consider using our Student Council Resolution Template to pass a resolution at your school.
3. Use the School Board Outreach Email Template to draft an email to your school board members.
You want to get the resolution on their radar and ask them to put it on the agenda.
4a. If they say yes:
Show up to a school board meeting. Remember to bring printed copies of your draft resolution. Talk about why your district needs a resolution passed.
4b. If they say no or don’t respond to your email:
Show up to a school board meeting. Fill out a comment card so you can speak during the open comment. Most school boards will give one to three minutes per person. Remember to bring printed copies of your drafted resolution.
5. Speak during the open comment portion of the meeting.
Tell them exactly what the resolution does and why climate action matters to you. Ask them to put the resolution up as an agenda item at the next meeting. Email us if you have questions about how to speak at public comment.
6a. If they say yes:
Send a follow up email thanking them for listening to you and for considering your resolution.
6b. Speak at the next meeting!
7a. If they say no:
Send a follow up email thanking them for listening to you. Remind them about all the effects climate change has on their students. Be persistent! Engage with your school district online and show your community that they’re not defending your future. Keep showing up to school board meetings and keep the pressure up! Get other people involved. Contact Schools for Climate Action for support.
7b. If the Resolution Passes:
Celebrate! Log it using the Log Your Resolutions section of the website. Share it with your community and other schools that haven't yet passed climate action resolutions. Pass it along to other elected officials, organizations, and members of the press and news media.
8. Reach out to us if you would to leverage your resolution by meeting with your member of Congress to deliver your resolution. We can help by setting up the meeting, creating a meeting script with you and your team, and empowering you to continue to foster a relationship with your member of Congress.
For more information, check out these files below!
2. Use the Model School Board Resolution to draft a climate action resolution for your school board to pass. Be sure to personalize the resolution with information specific to your school district. Do some research on the policies already in place in your district. Remember that a school board is more likely to pass a resolution if a student group within the district has already passed one, so consider using our Student Council Resolution Template to pass a resolution at your school.
3. Use the School Board Outreach Email Template to draft an email to your school board members.
You want to get the resolution on their radar and ask them to put it on the agenda.
4a. If they say yes:
Show up to a school board meeting. Remember to bring printed copies of your draft resolution. Talk about why your district needs a resolution passed.
4b. If they say no or don’t respond to your email:
Show up to a school board meeting. Fill out a comment card so you can speak during the open comment. Most school boards will give one to three minutes per person. Remember to bring printed copies of your drafted resolution.
5. Speak during the open comment portion of the meeting.
Tell them exactly what the resolution does and why climate action matters to you. Ask them to put the resolution up as an agenda item at the next meeting. Email us if you have questions about how to speak at public comment.
6a. If they say yes:
Send a follow up email thanking them for listening to you and for considering your resolution.
6b. Speak at the next meeting!
7a. If they say no:
Send a follow up email thanking them for listening to you. Remind them about all the effects climate change has on their students. Be persistent! Engage with your school district online and show your community that they’re not defending your future. Keep showing up to school board meetings and keep the pressure up! Get other people involved. Contact Schools for Climate Action for support.
7b. If the Resolution Passes:
Celebrate! Log it using the Log Your Resolutions section of the website. Share it with your community and other schools that haven't yet passed climate action resolutions. Pass it along to other elected officials, organizations, and members of the press and news media.
8. Reach out to us if you would to leverage your resolution by meeting with your member of Congress to deliver your resolution. We can help by setting up the meeting, creating a meeting script with you and your team, and empowering you to continue to foster a relationship with your member of Congress.
For more information, check out these files below!
| How to Pass a Climate Resolution |
| S4CA Presentation at the Zero Hour Youth Climate Summit (Miami, July 2019) |
Please keep us updated on your climate activism and remember to reach out to [email protected] with any questions or comments.
