- Example guidance from Wayne County MI schools
- How school districts can take action to protect their immigrant students (National Newcomer Network)
- Information on the Rights of All Children to Enroll in School: Questions and Answers for States, School Districts and Parents (U.S. Dept of Education, OELA)
- Immigration Myths Lesson Plan Supporting Students from Immigrant Families Protecting Immigrant Students’ Rights and Pamphlet (Learning for Justice)
- School Crisis Playbook: Deportation Response (Fugees Family)
- Article from the School Superintendents Association (AASA) on impact to schools in the rescission of schools designated as protected areas.
- 10 Strategies for How Schools Should Respond to Help Children Impacted by ICE Raids (Intercultural Development Research Association)
- Rights & Protections Hub: Guidance for (Higher Education) Institutions and Immigrant Students (Presidents’ Alliance on Higher Education and Immigration)
TESOL Priorities and Statement for Current U.S. Administration
As an association representing the English language teaching (ELT) profession and the multilingual learners of English it serves across the globe, TESOL International Association serves its members and the profession to amplify our voice and impact in advocating for the issues that impact our communities, schools, and learners.
With its worldwide membership, TESOL International Association (TESOL) advances the English language teaching (ELT) profession: classroom teachers, university professors, researchers, consultants, and teacher educators, who serve significant numbers of multilingual learners of English (MLE). The U.S. federal government plays an essential role in influencing education policy, funding, and other resources that are vital for the success of ELT professionals and the achievement of their students. In addition, domestic U.S. education policies can greatly impact ELT professionals outside the United States.
TESOL will always advocate, in a non-partisan way, for policies and practices that elevate the ELT profession and that support learners, schools, and communities.
The TESOL community embraces key values of diversity, equity, inclusion, and access, alongside professionalism, respect, integrity, and lifelong learning in advocating for policies that uphold and elevate the rights and needs of all learners and their educators, especially those navigating the complexities of language learning.
TESOL has provided the newly elected administration and congressional leaders our priorities for the federal government in supporting MLEs and ELT professionals at all educational levels.
TESOL International Association welcomes the opportunity to engage the current administration and the 119th U.S. Congress on these issues.
TESOL Position Statements and White Papers
- Importance of the ELT profession and MLEs
- Immigration Policy and Reform in the United States
- Discrimination in Education
- [Coming soon] Access to Public Education
Take Action
Register for the 2025 TESOL Advocacy Action Days to speak with your Congressional representatives on Capitol Hill and visit our Advocacy Action Center for specific U.S. policy updates.
Community & Colleague Resources
TESOL is committed to partnering with organizations and disseminating resources to our members, schools, communities, and policymakers to advance the ELT profession and support all multilingual learners of English at all educational levels. To this end, TESOL works closely with the National English Learners Roundtable, the Education for All Campaign, the U.S. for Success Coalition, and the National Coalition for Literacy.
Following are just some of the great resources from these coalitions and other partner associations aligned with TESOL’s mission and values.
Guidance on Protecting MLEs’ Rights and Privacy
Executive and Regulatory Actions Analysis
- NAFSA: Association of International Educators
- National Immigration Law Center
- Trump Day 1 Executive Orders
- Trump’s Recission of Protected Areas Policies
- American Immigration Council. After Day One: A High-level Analysis of Trump’s First Executive Actions
- Migration Policy Institute: With “Shock and Awe,” the Second Trump Term Opens with a Bid to Strongly Reshape Immigration
Support for Immigrants in the U.S.
- Know Your Rights: What to Do if You Are Arrested or Detained by Immigration (National Immigration Law Center)
- How to Talk to Students about Immigration (Global Refuge)
- For Educators: Supporting Undocumented Students & Their Families (Informed Immigrant)
- How Do I Talk About Immigration with my Children? (Immigrant Coalition)
- How to Support Immigrant Students and Families: Strategies for Schools and Early Childhood Programs (Colorin Colorado)
- Creating a Family Immigration Raid Emergency Plan (AFT)
- Know Your Rights and What Immigrant Families Should Do Now (Immigrant Legal Resource Center)
TESOL Advocacy Assistance
TESOL provides an Advocacy Action Request portal for any needs not addressed or for any developing or changing circumstances that impact the ELT profession and the MLEs we serve.
View Advocacy Assistance Options Request Advocacy Assistance