The support of a state's department of education makes it easier for NetDay organizers to gain the cooperation of educational organizations, teachers, and district and county administrators. In California, State Superintendent of Public Instruction Delaine Eastin, by endorsing NetDay early, opened the way for the state department of education to act. A NetDay organizer should meet with their state's education department as soon as possible. He or she should explain how a NetDay event works, make it clear why the department's support is crucial to coordinating a statewide effort, and define the issues that the department must address.

Here are steps the state can take to express its support to local administrators and help them prepare for a NetDay event. (The California Department of Education formed a NetDay working group, composed of representatives from the school, district, and county levels, to define schools' needs and to help schools participate.)

1. Send a letter to the educational organizations that represent administrators and teachers in your state, stating your support and asking for their endorsement of a NetDay event. Hold a meeting to go over plans for a NetDay; a NetDay organizer should participate.
   
   
2. Be sure to understand the needs of schools and districts in your state. Principle issues to consider are: liability and risk management; technical issues related to installing the cable; public relations; business support; volunteer support; teacher participation; labor support, and parent support of technology in schools (see our answers to tough questions). Remember that teachers and students are key supporters of NetDay events.
   
   
3. Compile an information packet to send to schools and districts. Include some checklists, illustrations, and other information in this guide. Modify them if necessary to address issues specific to your state. Also, be sure to include any other state-specific information that will help schools implement a NetDay.
   
   
4. Work with NetDay organizers to plan and conduct regional NetDay workshops co-sponsored by local businesses, including telecommunications and high-technology companies. (In California, county offices of education hosted six workshops underwritten by Pacific Bell.) Ask counties to encourage teams of school board members, administrators, technical staff, and facility planners to come to the workshops. At the workshops, brief attendees on how to take advantage of volunteer and corporate support and show county, district, and school administrators and PTAs what steps to take next.

Workshop attendees will pass on what they've learned to the teachers and organizers who set the gears in motion at each school - the people responsible for making sure that a site survey is done, that enough supplies are available, that the wiring kit arrives in time, and that enough volunteers arrive to get the work done on your NetDay event.