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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. |
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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.
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TESOL Advocacy Resources
 MATSOL works with TESOL International Association 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.
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Advocacy Update
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Building an ABE union in Massachusetts
Mass Coalition for Adult Education (MCAE) is exploring a new kind of non-traditional union of ABE/ESOL teachers and administrators who would bargain directly with the state, rather than with each individual employer. For information, see the MCAE blog Making a Living(?) in Adult Education.
Bill H.1065/S.197, An Act Relative to Enhancing English Opportunities for All Students in the Commonwealth
 Update March 21: The Joint Education Committee filed an extension to continue studying the bill until June 29, 2012. You can still contact state legislators and urge them to support this bill! You can personalize the message to share your experience about why this legislation is important.
The 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. Fact Sheet on H.1065/S.197
Proposed Changes to Educator License Regulations for Teachers of ELLs
Last summer, 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.
In February, the Board of Education proposed amendments to state regulations for Educator Licensure and Preparation Programs, License Renewal and Education of English Learners. These regulations will implement a new Sheltered English Instruction (SEI) endorsement that will be required of all content area teachers to enable them to have LEP students in their classrooms, as well as administrators who supervise teachers of ELLs.
MATSOL's testimony to the Board of Education (April 2012). 
Changes to ESL Licensure
At the March 20th Board of Education meeting, the DESE will present proposed changes to ESL Licensure.
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Last Updated on Thursday, May 10, 2012 11:48 AM |
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