Implementation of Kids Voting throughout all schools in a district hinges at the outset on the endorsement and support of the superintendent. Once the superintendent and the Board of Education have agreed to have Kids Voting in the district’s schools and classrooms, the superintendent should be asked to consider the following action items which will assure the success of the project:

• publicly announce the district’s commitment to implement Kids Voting;

• appoint a Kids Voting school district coordinator;

• assure implementation of Kids Voting at all levels;

• identify district contact person to serve as a community relations liaison.

This individual serves as the liaison between the Kids Voting local project coordinator and the principals in identifying district-wide needs and planning for the school implementation portion of the project. Generally, this position is held by an assistant superintendent, curriculum specialist, or special project administrator. Responsibilities of the coordinator are:

• serve on the local Kids Voting steering committee;

• coordinate implementation with principals, providing service and support;

• help organize the district’s teacher in-service plan;

• oversee the distribution of curriculum, information and materials.

The Community Relations Liaison serves as the spokesperson with the media on behalf of the school district and is responsible for reporting Kids Voting school activities to the community and media. This includes press releases, newsletters, special interest stories and distribution of posters and other promotional materials. This individual may also assist in planning district-wide Kids Voting events. In addition, the liaison keeps the school board and superintendent appraised of Kids Voting activities and serves as the school district representative on the Public Relations sub-committee.

The enthusiastic support and commitment of the principal is critical to how the program is received by teachers, and is crucial to approval of the program in districts with site-based management. To assist with implementation in their school, the principal should identify an On-Site Coordinator (Assistant Principal, Social Studies Chair or interested teacher) to organize a team of teachers, parents, volunteers and students to assist with implementation. The principal can also enlist the school’s student leadership to initiate and become involved in special school projects. These could include: student debates, candidate forums, elections assemblies, student editorials, and election night tabulation.

This individual, designated by the school principal, is responsible for developing the school Kids Voting implementation plan which includes the following:

• plan and organize your school’s teacher in-service;

• develop a plan for distribution of the curriculum, teacher handbooks, registration materials and other information;

• oversee implementation of curriculum to ensure all students are given the opportunity to participate;

• provide support and service to teachers in a timely manner;

• identify and work with the Kids Voting School Parent Representative in providing additional volunteer support to the classroom teachers.

The On-Site Coordinator is the "point person" for communications with the building principal, school district community relations liaison and teachers about classroom grade level or school-wide Kids Voting events.

There are many people who are critical to the success of Kids Voting, but none are more important than the classroom teacher. The teacher is pivotal to making the experience one that is both enriching and instructive to students. The importance of gaining teacher involvement and supporting teachers cannot be overemphasized.

The curriculum has been developed by practicing teachers and is directed at developing an attitude of the importance of voting and the empowerment the vote gives to a student. The curriculum should be delivered in the spring prior to a fall election so that teachers can review and become familiar with the materials. The amount of curriculum can be intimidating. We have included a large number of lessons in order to enable teachers to choose lessons that fit their classroom and style of teaching. The curriculum should be viewed as a menu to choose options from. Teachers in Minnesota teach an average of four Kids Voting lessons, some teach more, some less. Teaching these lessons and encouraging the kids to vote is all we ask the teachers to do.

The primary responsibility of a Kids Voting School Parent Representative is to identify a parent volunteer for each classroom to assist the teacher in Kids Voting activities. This network of parent volunteers could also be tapped to help in organizing and assisting with special school-wide Kids Voting events. The School Parent Representative would work closely with the Kids Voting On-Site Coordinator on communicating about the program to parents, teachers and students.