Advocacy

Advocacy & Policy

MATSOL's mission is to provide support and professional development to educators working with English language learners and to advocate for the educational opportunities and achievement of English language learners of all ages, and in all program models. MATSOL works in coalition with other local and national groups to achieve these goals.

Advocacy Committee Co-Chairs: Michaela Colombo & Patti Aube.

Join the Advocacy E-List: At the MATSOL Community Page, go to the "My Features" tab and click on "E-lists." (Login required).

Learn about the issues: View reports on ELL/ESOL education in Massachusetts and nationally.

Advocacy Initiatives

Some MATSOL's ongoing advocacy initiatives at the state and federal level include:

Advocating for the rights of English language learners of all ages, and in all program models, to have access to high quality educational opportunities. MATSOL supports program choice, including ESL, Two-Way, TBE and Structured Immersion, and recognizes that one program model does not fit all students.

Supporting the leaders in Massachusetts ELL programs, including the directors and coordinators of K-12 programs through the MA English Learner Leadership Council (MELLC).

Supporting passage of the DREAM Act for undocumented high school students wishing to pursue higher education.

Teachers and Parents Give Testimony at the State House

TESOL Advocacy Resources

MATSOL works with Teachers of English to Speakers of Other Languages (TESOL) to support national advocacy initiatives on the federal level. We encourage MATSOL members to become members of TESOL in order to support this important work.

TESOL Positions Statements
TESOL publishes position statements on issues affecting ESOL students and teachers nationally and internationally. Click here to view TESOL's current position statements.

US Advocacy Action Center
At TESOL's U.S. Advocacy Action Center, members can look up their representatives, contact the government, find information on key bills and legislation and tell a friend about advocacy issues. Go to TESOL's Advocacy Action Center.

TESOL Advocacy Day
Each year in June, MATSOL sends a member of the Board of Directors to represent MATSOL at TESOL Advocacy Day in Washington, DC. Affiliate members from around the United States receive training on the legislative process, and then visit their Senators and Congressmen on Capitol Hill to advocate for the rights of English language learners on the federal level.

TESOL has opened Advocacy Day to any member who would like to participate. If you are interested, please contact TESOL directly.

For more information on TESOL Advocacy, visit the TESOL website at www.tesol.org.

Advocacy Update

Join the Advocacy E-List: At the MATSOL Community Page, go to the "My Features" tab and click on "E-lists." (Login required).

Sign up here to attend a Board of Education meeting.
There are several issues under consideration by the Board of Education this year that will affect ELL education. Sign up to attend a Board meeting and give public testimony about our concerns for ELLs. With your help, we can show our "power in numbers" and keep ELL needs at the top of the policy agenda.

Governor Patrick Announces New Strategies to Close the Achievement Gap
Nov 9, 2011: In his speech, the Governor proposed the establishment of "Summer English Learning Camps specifically designed to give English Language Learners more time, in an active, engaged 'camp' atmosphere, to become fluent in English."

Governor's Speech

NCLB Waiver
Nov 14, 2011: The Massachusetts Department of Elementary and Secondary Education submitted a waiver request to the U.S. Department of Education (USED) seeking flexibility from certain provisions of the federal No Child Left Behind Act of 2001 (NCLB). The application process required input from stakeholders, and MATSOL submitted recommendations.

MATSOL's letter to the Commissioner of Education

Press release from the DESE

Bill H.1065/S.197
MATSOL is working in coalition with other advocacy groups to support Bill H.1065/S.197, An Act Relative to Enhancing English Opportunities for All Students in the Commonwealth. This bill will allow schools greater flexibility in choosing programs to educate ELLs and provide accountability measures to ensure that educational goals are being met. It also provides structures to ensure parental involvement. Contact the Joint Committee on Education and your state legislator to voice your support.

Fact Sheet on H.1065/S.197

Find out how to support this bill

Department of Justice Investigation
Sep 27, 2011: The U.S. Department of Justice found shortcomings in the Massachusetts ELL program, and specifically in the preparation of teachers who teach academic content to ELLs in SEI programs. The Board of Elementary and Secondary Education voted to approve a timeline for Commissioner Chester to review the needs and options and then present to the Board proposed regulations by February 2012. It is critical that MATSOL membership utilize their expertise to advise the Commissioner and to inform their state legislators.

Department of Justice Letter

Last Updated on Friday, January 06, 2012 11:06 PM

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