Advocacy
Hawai‘i TESOL advocates on behalf of language teachers, language learners, and the profession as a whole. Hawai‘i TESOL has provided written testimony to the U.S. Department of Education, House of Representatives, and Senate, and to the Hawai‘i Board of Education, State House of Representatives, and State Senate to advocate for policies that support local English language learners, families, and teachers. Hawai‘i TESOL has also participated in the TESOL Advocacy & Policy Summit in Washington, DC, and has met with Hawaii’s US Representatives and Senators to advocate for policies that support teachers and learners.
Learn more about current Hawai‘i TESOL advocacy efforts and how you can participate by visiting Hawai‘i TESOLʻs News page on its website.
Hawai‘i TESOL encourages its members to write individual letters of support, asking their U.S. Representative – depending on their district – to sponsor House bills, and asking both U.S. Senators to sponsor Senate bills. Members can use templates or write their own emails to Hawaii’s U.S. Congressional delegation. Individual stories about how bills would impact members as teachers or parents, or how bills would affect students and families, are especially relevant, so personalized messages are best.
Current Hawai‘i Congressional Representatives and Senators:
- U.S. Representative Case (1st District): https://case.house.gov/contact/
- U.S. Representative Kahele (2nd District): https://kahele.house.gov/contact
- U.S. Senator Hirono: https://www.hirono.senate.gov/help/email
- U.S. Senator Schatz: https://www.schatz.senate.gov/contact
Read about Spring 2023 Advocacy Update
