Advocacy & Leadership

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Educators of English language learners (ELLs) are important advocates for their students — and may be their students' only advocates. These resources help educators understand that role and offer ideas about where to start as advocates.

For some additional ideas, take a look at the archive of our Facebook Live event on advocating for ELLs, featuring Dr. Diane Staehr Fenner!

Featured Articles

Blog Posts

Related Video

Books and Booklists

Guides and Toolkits

Research and Reports

Recommended Resources

From the NEA: All In! How to Advocate for English Language Learners

The National Education Association's ELL advocacy guide, All In! How Educators Can Advocate for English Language Learners, offers strategies, resources, and step-by-step instructions for navigating the real-life issues educators encounter every day.

The guide also features general educators and ELL educators who tell stories about the students who inspired them to act. Do you have a story to tell? Add your voice to the voices of educators from around the country.

Private Foundations, ELLs & My Continued Skepticism

This article written by ELL educator and blogger Larry Ferlazzo discusses philanthropic support for ELL education, as well as the role of ELL educators in that conversation and process of setting priorities. Larry is a veteran teacher Sacramento, CA and has authored numerous articles and two books.

How do I use this information?

You can use the information from this section in a variety of ways, whether it's for your own research or to share with colleagues and community members. Some settings in which these resources may prove useful include:

  • Conversations with students, parents, colleagues, and administrators
  • Professional development settings
  • District planning sessions
  • University courses (undergraduate and graduate)
  • School board meetings
  • Meetings with lawmakers