This paper reviews research concerning the attitudes that principals, journalism advisers, high school journalism press association directors, and student editors hold toward student publications, and it reviews research concerning effective political strategies. The study focuses particularly on the strategies employed by supporters of student press legislation in Arkansas, where such legislation, despite the state's politically conservative orientation, was passed finally in 1995. A detailed history of attempts to draft legislation palatable to all parties involved shows how convoluted a process it became. Supporters of the Arkansas Student Publications Act found that it was only by applying information from both surveys of those associated with high school publications and surveys of those involved in the political processes that they were able to draft successful legislation. First, supporters built a wide base of support for their proposed bill. When that base of support seemed about to unravel, they framed the issue in terms all could appreciate and also compromised on some issues. Second, supporters found effective legislative sponsors, all of whom were well-respected Democrats with rural constituencies, and two of whom were experienced legislators who had either media or teaching backgrounds. Third, and perhaps most importantly, supporters negotiated with the opposition before the opposition had a change to mobilize its forces. They managed to convince the opposition that the proposed act was a win-win-win situation for administrators, advisers and students. (Contains 24 references; 5 appendixes contain successive drafts of the bill). (Author/TB)