Advocacy Letter for a Full-Service Community School Expansion Act

 May 1, 2025

The Honorable Richard J. Durbin

United States Senate

711 Hart Senate Office Building Washington D.C., 20510

Dear Senator Durbin,

I am writing to you today to express my full support for the Full-Service Community School Expansion Act and to strongly encourage you to co-sponsor and advocate for it once it reaches the Senate floor. As a social work student in your home state of Illinois and its capital, Springfield, I am fully committed to bridging the education equity gap that is currently being overlooked by politicians—local and otherwise—who should care about the educational outcomes for young, impoverished members of our society.

Poverty, hunger, and instability are just a few words that describe the obstacles that challenge children who would directly benefit from this bill. Full-service community schools do more than address educational outcomes— they offer essential services such as healthcare, after-school programs, mental health counseling, and family support at times when they are needed most. The major causes of educational disparities stem from underfunding and a lack of resources. We must foster environments that are safe, educational, and uplifting for our children—many of whom are constantly overlooked by a political system that claims to be working to build a better future for struggling students.

In Illinois, over 30% of children from preschool through high school live in low-income families, and these students face barriers to learning every day—such as food insecurity, housing instability, and a lack of access to quality healthcare. By investing in this program, we’re not only investing in education, but also in reducing crime rates, strengthening the future workforce, and promoting upward economic mobility. Texas, for example, invested in community school programs through their Community School Grants program. Schools that participated in this program reported higher graduation rates and lower dropout rates overall. This shows that when we invest in the comprehensive needs of students, we see measurable, positive outcomes.

Consider the story of Endra, a local single mother from Springfield, who works two jobs yet still struggles to provide basic necessities like food and school supplies for her children. She had to beg the local school to provide pens and notebooks for her first grader, who often arrives hungry and has difficulty focusing on schoolwork—a fact noted by her teacher. Under the Full-Service Community School model, food would be provided for this young girl, and counseling services would support her mental health. Endra wouldn’t have to live in a constant state of worry about her children while she works two jobs.

I urge you to consider becoming a co-sponsor of this bill. You hold significant influence in the Senate, and your support would champion a cause that lifts the impoverished. These children are not just receiving a quality education—they are overcoming barriers that have been systemically overlooked for decades. This bill addresses that, and it needs a champion: you, Senator Durbin. Your words hold immense weight in the Senate, and this bill requires someone like you to advocate for it.

Thank you for reading and considering supporting this program. I have attached my contact information in case you have any further questions. Please feel free to reach out to me at any time. Together, we can transform our communities and the lives of those within them.

As an advocacy letter assignment, this is pretty close to perfect.  In an actual advocacy letter, you would cut it down by a third or half, but this is an assignment, so let's look at what this letter does correctly.

First, it's addressed to the correct person for a piece of federal legislation, and shows some research inasmuch as you know that Durbin isn't yet a co-sponsor (you invite him to become one) and that the bill won't be in a committee where Durbin is serving (you suggest he vote for it on the Senate Floor vote).  When you elected representative or senator is not in a committee that is looking at a bill, you can suggest that your person contact friends or associates who are on the committee, or have a word with the committee chair or ranking member, to see if they can put some influence to support a bill even before it gets to a floor vote.  In your case, suggesting that Durbin become a co-sponsor is a similar request.

You offer three critical points to help convince your audience to support the bill.  You offer facts about the need for this legislation, pointing out that 30% of Illinois children live in low income families, and pointing out that children in low income families have more obstacles in the way of their successful education.  This is a point that establishes the need for this legislation. 

 Then, you offer facts that support the idea that this legislation will be be effective, citing examples form Texas.  This establishes that there is good evidence that this legislation will help solve the problem it is intended to address.

Then, you offer a personal anecdote about a person, showing in concrete ways how the bill (if turned into a law) would help that specific person.  This sort of example case study with a moral narrative (the person suffers without the legislation, and the person will suffer less with the legislation) is highly effective in convincing people.

Further, you know that Durbin is liberal, and the appeal in this letter is written to convince a liberal person, with your emphasis on the care ethic and the duty of the government to intervene to create fair competition in society. 

The letter is well-written, and the tone of the letter is respectful.  This is a good example.