STAY UP TO DATE on Language Related Legislation
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Advocacy Action Day - October 16One-day event to bring newly introduced World LEAP legislation to Capitol Hill.
Todd Bowen, official ICTFL Representative Linda Egnatz, ICTFL Advocacy Chair |
In 1976, the Joint National Committee for Languages began as an informal coalition of eight national language teaching associations, and now has grown to over 100 members, including national, regional, and state organizations. JNCL is an entirely member-funded nonprofit education policy association, and it represents more than 300,000 professionals under its three-tiered governance. The most widely known JNCL activity is its annual Language Advocacy Day and Delegate Assembly in Washington, DC where members promote public awareness of language issues.
Since its creation in 1988, the National Council for Languages and International Studies has engaged in public advocacy on behalf of languages and international education. NCLIS is a nonprofit trade association that serves as an “action arm” for the language and international education community by translating professional priorities into national policy.
ANYONE interested in advocating for language learning causes can participate and JNCL-NCLIS provides training prior to visits to Capitol Hill offices.
National Language Advocacy Day - February 8-10, 2023 (VIRTUAL)
ICTFL Member and Advocacy Chair, Linda Egnatz, was elected to serve as the 2023-2024 JNCL-NCLIS President. As President, she hosted this year's 2023 Language Advocacy Days which included presentations by Representatives Mary and Peltola and Jimmy Panetta, Senator Brian Schatz, Primary Chief Chuck Hoskin of the Cherokee Nation, Utah State Supervisor of Education Sydnee Dickson, and Roberto Rodriguez from the Department of Education. The 2023 ICTFL Delegation included AATF President Eileen Walvoord, AATSP Erica Nathan-Gamauf, new ICTFL Executive Director Todd Bowen, and ICTFL 2022 Teacher of the Year Heidi Lechner. Our delegation met with both Senators Durbin and Duckworth's offices and 7 Representative offices. (see video right)
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National Language Advocacy Day - February 2-4, 2022 (VIRTUAL)
Illinois #LAD23 Delegates meeting with representatives of Senator Tammy Duckworth's office.
Illinois Delegates meeting with representatives of Senator Dick Durbin's office.
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For the 2nd year in a row, a virtual LAD gathering made it possible for Language Advocacy Day delegates to meet with the offices of ALL 100 U.S. Senators offices and hundreds of Representatives to advocate for legislation that impacts our Illinois language learners. |
National Language Advocacy Day - February 3-5, 2021
Language Advocacy Day 2021 was virtual due to the COVID-19 global pandemic. Our 2021 Illinois delegates: Ellen Ericson (ICTFL 2019 Illinois Language Teacher of the Year and 2021-22 ICTFL President), Linda Egnatz (ICTFL Advocacy Chair), Jayne Abrate (AATF Executive Director) and Kathleen Priceman (Past President NNELL, Eileen Walvoord (AATF), Erica Nathan-Gamauf (AATSP) and Todd Bowen (ICTFL Professional Learning Chair). We were inspired by Leon Panetta who has long been a language advocate and met virtually with Senators Durbin and Duckworth's offices as well as those of our individual House Representatives.
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National Language Advocacy Day - February 5-6, 2020
2020 Illinois delegates: Jane Swisher (ICTFL 2019 Illinois Language Teacher of the Year), Linda Egnatz (ICTFL Advocacy Chair), Jayne Abrate (AATF Executive Director) and Kathleen Priceman (President NNELL). The day was spent visiting the offices of Senators Durbin and Duckworth as well as those of individual House Representatives and attending the bipartisan Language Caucus meeting. As President of NNELL, Kathleen Priceman served on an Advocacy Day panel (below right).
National Language Advocacy Day - February 14-15, 2019
2019 Illinois delegates: Erin Gibbons (ICTFL 2018 Illinois Language Teacher of the Year), Linda Egnatz (ICTFL Advocacy Chair), Jayne Abrate (AATF Executive Director) with guest Karl Cogard (Embassy of France Education Attaché) , Kathleen Priceman (President NNELL) and Elizabeth Colon (Metaphrasis). Also participating were two university students and recipients of the Illinois State Seal of Biliteracy: Taylor Doyle (University of Florida International Studies major) and Gina Esposito (Ball State University Media Communications major). The day was spent visiting the offices of Senators Durbin and Duckworth as well as those of individual House Representatives.
National Language Advocacy Day - February 15-16, 2018
2018 Illinois delegates: Carrie Toth (ICTFL President), Linda Egnatz (ICTFL Advocacy Chair), Serafima Getty (Lewis University), Shingo Satsutani (AATJ) and Lyn Scolaro (AATI) made visits to the offices of Senators Durbin and Duckworth as well as their individual House Representatives.
National Language Advocacy Day - February 16-17, 2017
2017 Illinois delegates: Todd Bowen (ICTFL Professional Development), Linda Egnatz (ICTFL Advocacy Chair), Ryan Rockaitis (ICTFL 2016 ICTFL Teacher of the Year), Shingo Satsutani (AATJ) and Linda Scolaro (AATI) made visits to the offices of Senators Durbin and Duckworth as well as their individual House Representatives. Linda Egnatz presented Illinois's Seal of Biliteracy program to delegates.
National Language Advocacy Day - February 25-26, 2016
2016 Illinois delegates: Todd Bowen (ICTFL Professional Development) and Linda Egnatz (ICTFL Advocacy Chair). Following Capitol Hill visits to Senators and Representatives' offices, delegates participated in meetings at the U.S. Dept of Education office (below right) with ACTFL Executive Director Marty Abbott and others.
National Language Advocacy Day - May 7-8, 2015
2015 Illinois delegates: Todd Bowen (ICTFL Advocacy Chair) and Linda Egnatz (ICTFL President) who presented Senator Mark Kirk (R) with the Central States Conference Paul Simon Award for his support of the AAAS Study.
National Language Advocacy Day - May 8-9, 2014
2014 Illinois delegates: Todd Bowen (ICTFL Advocacy Chair) and Linda Egnatz (ICTFL President) who was also attending Language Advocacy Days as the 2014 ACTFL National Language Teacher of the Year with visits to the Senate, Congress and the White House. Our Illinois delegates met personally with Senators Dick Durbin and Mark Kirk as well as their House Representatives (pictured is Todd Bowen with Representative Jan Schakowski. A visit to the White House included a discussion with Roberto J. Rodríguez, who serves as Domestic Policy Council as Deputy Assistant to President Obama for Education.