Below are communications tools that we hope will assist states as they develop and refine their communications and outreach plans and strategies.

The first - Key Steps to Building a Communications Strategy - gives an overview of the steps states should take and provides an organizing framework for the rest of the tools.

Lay the Groundwork

• Key Steps to Building a Communications Strategy
• Putting the Pieces in Place for a Communications Strategy
• Communicating Internally and Externally
• Communications Channels for Every Budget

Build a Communications and Outreach Plan

• Audience Mapping: The Why, How and What to Look For
• College- and Career-Ready Communications and Outreach Plan Template [PDF, Word]

Put Your Plan into Action

• Building a College- and Career-Ready Coalition
• Communications Research
• Hosting a College- and Career-Ready Roundtable
• Talking to the Media 101
• Engaging the Media
• Measuring a Communications Strategy's Success
• A Mid-Course Audit for Your College- and Career-Ready Communications Strategy

Templates

• Sample Organizing Principles Template
• Sample Key Three Messages Template
• Sample Strategic Tactical Plan Template
• Sample One-Pager on Your College- and Career-Ready Coalition