Policy Agenda

Discover important issues being advanced on a national level in the year ahead

Each year, Girl Scouts of the USA develops a federal policy agenda to advance key issues and promote leadership opportunities for girls. We create the agenda based on extensive research and expertise in activity programming for girls.

Our 2021–22 Federal Policy Agenda (PDF) and 2021-22 State Policy Agenda (PDF) supports legislation that makes more leadership and educational opportunities for girls and that benefits youth-serving nonprofits like Girl Scouts.

Read on for Girl Scouts' specific public policy priorities.

Inspiring Greater Civic Engagement and Education toggle arrow

Out-of-school civics programs are a crucial component of education. We advocate for policy efforts to expand girls’ access to civic education, including:

Supporting service-learning projects and informal educational programs that take place out of school
Improving girls’ practical understanding of the systems, laws, and processes that govern society at the local, state, and federal levels

Encouraging a sense of personal and community responsibility to engage in civic processes, such as voting

Cultivating Girls’ Passion for STEM  toggle arrow

Every girl deserves to have opportunities to explore and build an interest in STEM. Girl Scouts supports policy efforts to:

Invest in STEM programs through federal partnerships with community organizations and schools
Promote proven techniques for engaging girls in STEM, including single-gender learning environments and hands-on, inquiry-based learning
Introduce girls to diverse role models and mentors in STEM
Expand out-of-school STEM programming to girls and traditionally underrepresented groups, including English-language learners; Black, Indigenous, and other people of color; and students served by Title I of the Elementary and Secondary Education Act
Encourage federal agencies to develop STEM career paths for women and other traditionally underrepresented groups

Strengthening Girls’ Financial Literacy and Business Skills toggle arrow

Research shows that girls are actively interested in becoming entrepreneurs, developing financially stable futures, and using their skills to make a difference in the world.

Girl Scouts supports policy efforts that:

Ensure all girls gain financial literacy and entrepreneurial skills
Expand federal initiatives that support financial literacy and entrepreneurial programs through partnerships with community organizations and schools
Use educational technology to strengthen kids’ and young adults’ financial literacy capabilities

Expanding Girls’ Access to Outdoor Exploration toggle arrow

Outdoor activities have always been a cornerstone of the Girl Scout experience, and we remain committed to ensuring that girls can take part in everything camps and our nation’s natural resources have to offer.

We support policy efforts to:

Ensure that all girls can participate in transformative outdoor experiences regularly and in varied ways
Engage girls from underserved and marginalized communities in outdoor experiences by identifying barriers to access and inclusion

Provide girls with opportunities to explore solutions to conservation-related issues to advance their understanding of natural sciences, natural resource management, and related STEM careers
Strengthen girls' interest in environmental stewardship and advocacy, so they learn the value of protecting our would and, in the process, how to advocate for themselves

Upholding a Strong Nonprofit Community toggle arrow

We support policies and activities that advance the Girl Scout mission to build girls of courage, confidence, and character who make the world a better place. Accordingly, we endorse efforts that help nonprofits incentivize charitable giving and help recruit and retain staff and volunteers.

Advocacy Center

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