Advocacy 

Share Your Act 20 Questions or Concerns HERE: 

This Google Form is a place to collect questions and concerns you have about Act 20, Wisconsin’s new early literacy law. The goal is to revise the law so that it includes multilingual learners, their unique literacy needs, and bilingual/dual language programs that serve them in Wisconsin. 

On October 21, 2023, the WIABE Board sent this letter to the State Superintendent along with members of the cabinet and the Early Reading Committee

On October 14th 2022, Board President Lori Menning participated in a round table discussion with Senator Tammy Baldwin. During this discussion she shared the challenges, strengths and hopes for changes for bilingual education in the state of Wisconsin. 

Letter to the Joint Finance Committee in support of the 2023-2025 biennial budget proposal for K-12 Schools that directly impact ELs and Dual Language Bilingual-Bicultural (BLBC) Programs in Wisconsin.

On June 13th, 2023,  Our WIABE Executive Board sent a letter to the Joint Finance Committee urging the committee to support the requested $22.3 M to raise reimbursement rates for BLBC education programs across the state of Wisconsin.

Letter to Support Adoption of the 2020 WIDA English Development Standards

On March, 2021,  Our WIABE Executive Board in collaboration with WI TESOL sent a letter to the Wisconsin Department of Public Instruction's State Superintendent's Review Council  urging the council to adopt the 2020 WIDA ELD standards. 

Letter to WI DPI Urging A Request for Access Waiver for 2020-2021 School  Year 

On January, 2021, Our WIABE Executive Board in collaboration with WI TESOL sent a letter to the Wisconsin Department of Public Instruction urging the Department to request a waiver for Access Testing for the 2020-2021, given the challenges posed by the Covid-19 pandemic. 

Letter to State Superintendent About Teacher Licensing Roadblocks 

On February, 2020, Our WIABE Executive Board sent this letter to the Superintendent of the Wisconsin Department of Public Instruction in regards to the roadblocks being faced by bilingual teaching candidates as they seek teaching licenses. We seek to engage and work with DPI and other stakeholders from around the state so that we broaden the shrinking pipeline of bilingual educators coming onto the field. 

Letter to State Legislators Opposing Legislation Making English the Official Language of the State of Wisconsin 

On January 2020, state legislators resurrected a bill that would make English the official language in Wisconsin. The Wisconsin Association for Bilingual Education opposed this legislation. Our executive board met and crafted a letter that is being sent to the Governor and to state legislators on behalf of the organization. Here is a small excerpt of the letter: "As an organization, we adamantly oppose Assembly Bill 340, which seeks to make English the official language in the state of Wisconsin. This bill will create unnecessary divisions within our thriving multicultural, multilingual communities in this state and will further intimidate individuals whose first language is not English."