Submit to MATSOL Currents – Deadline is October 15!

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Currents is MATSOL’s official newsletter, published twice a year. View the latest issue of MATSOL Currents.

There’s a lot going on in the world of TESOL and EL education, and we’d like all of it to be reflected in Currents! We welcome reviews of books and materials, reports on meetings and events, personal experience accounts, and articles on everything of interest to MATSOL members: adult education, PreK-12 education, bilingual and dual-language programs, ESL in higher education, educator-preparation programs, Intensive English Programs, and private language schools.

Submission Deadlines

Fall/Winter Issue — October 15
Spring/Summer Issue — May 15

Learn More

Immigration Updates & Resources

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The state Attorney General’s Office has issued family preparedness and legal resources to assist Haitian and Syrian Temporary Protected Status (TPS) holders following the Supreme Court’s decision allowing the federal government to terminate TPS for immigrants from those countries.

Online resources include an emergency planning guide for parents with uncertain immigration status, which is available online in English, Spanish, Portuguese, Haitian Creole, and Simplified Chinese; resources on legal assistance; tips to avoid immigration-related scams; other resources for immigrants in Massachusetts; and immigration guidance for employers. (7/13/2026)

For additional resources, see MIRA Coalition https://miracoalition.org/

Save-the-Date! 2027 MATSOL Conference

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Mark your calendars for the 2027 MATSOL Conference!

Tuesday-Thursday, May 25-27, 2027
Plus Virtual Track
Renaissance Framingham Hotel & Conference Center
Framingham, MA

The MATSOL Conference is the largest gathering of English Learner and Multilingual Learner educators in Massachusetts. It convenes classroom teachers, school leaders, instructional coaches, and higher education faculty to share expertise and best practices, in support of MATSOL’s mission to promote equity and excellence in the education of multilingual learners.

Stay tuned for more information!

Call for Proposals opens in September 2026
Registration opens in January 2027

LEARN MORE

The conference offers high-quality professional learning, practical strategies for supporting multilingual learners, excellent networking opportunities, and access to current research and best practices in the field.

~ Conference Attendee

MATSOLworks Job Board – Free for members and employers!

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MATSOLworks is a service linking MATSOL members seeking jobs in EL, ML, ESL, ESOL and Bilingual education with employers in the PK-12, adult education, higher education, and workplace education sectors.  

Free for members: MATSOL members receive a weekly email with current job listings and can access the online job board. 

Free for employers: Employers may submit job listings at no charge. No membership required. Postings are sent weekly to our 2,000+ members and are posted in an online job board in the members-only area of the website.

Visit MATSOLworks

Help Wanted: Livestream In-Person Conference Host

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Temporary, part-time contract position. Must be able to work on-site in Framingham, MA  on May 28-30, 2025 from 7:30AM – 4:00 PM (EDT)

MATSOL is looking for an upbeat professional to support presenters on our digital conference platform during the 2025 MATSOL Virtual Conference, which brings together educators of Multilingual Learners of English from across the Commonwealth of Massachusetts to share expertise and best practices. This is a great opportunity for someone who wants to learn more about TESOL and ML education!

Overview:

Serve as Zoom host for virtual live streamed sessions at the in-person MATSOL Conference. 

  • Use Zoom Meeting Pro integrated within the Whova conference platform (app and web) to livestream the in-person conference. 
  • MATSOL will provide a laptop computer and Zoom account for hosts to use during the conference. 
  • The livestream team will also include a videographer to film the livestream, and a MATSOL volunteer to assist in the presentation room. 

Responsibilities:

  • Host and manage attendees in large Zoom meetings (up to 500 virtual attendees) and ensure presentations and livestream go smoothly.
  • Act as the primary support person for presenters assigned to you during the conference week.
  • Set up Zoom Meeting and the Whova features before sessions start.
  • Do a tech check with presenters 15 minutes before each session. 
  • Start and stop recording the session.
  • Monitor chat and Q&A and relay questions to the presenter. Assist presenters as needed by sharing links, launching polls, etc.
  • Create breakout rooms (if applicable).
  • Remain professional and upbeat throughout the presentation.
  • Troubleshoot any problems during a presentation.
  • Work with the volunteer assistant and A/V team to help make it the best experience for both the in-person and virtual audience.
  • Remain in communication with the MATSOL team throughout the conference. 

Requirements:

  • Ability to work on-site from 7:30am to 4:00pm in Framingham, MA for all three days of the in-person conference (May 28-30, 2025).
  • Experience facilitating large group meetings and presentations with the ZOOM Pro meeting platform, including using breakout rooms, chat, Q&A, polls, YouTube live feed, etc. 
  • Experience with a virtual conference platform like Whova.
  • Personal device (laptop, smartphone, tablet) with WiFi capability, and can run/download the Whova web/app.
  • Proficient with computers and technology and able to learn new systems quickly.
  • Proficient with Google Slides and PowerPoint.
  • Professional, upbeat demeanor with good communication and problem-solving skills.

Time commitment: 

  • Week of April 28, 2025: Independently review and complete training materials and participate in two live online training sessions (M/W 10-11AM)
  • Week of May 5, 2025: Attend the online livestream presenter orientation to introduce yourselves, answer some questions.
  • Wednesday-Friday, May 28-30, 2025: Host up to five conference sessions per day between 7:30am to 4pm, with scheduled breaks.

Location: Sheraton Framingham Hotel & Conference Center, Framingham MA

Stipend: $700.00 for training and 3 days hosting.
Lunch is provided. Free parking at the hotel. 

Interested? Send your resume to apply@matsol.org
“2025 livestream host” should be in your email subject line.

View the job description in Google Docs

RFQ: Professional Learning Facilitators and Developers

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MATSOL is seeking qualified individuals to facilitate & develop professional learning opportunities for educators of multilingual learners. 

MATSOL is a nonprofit professional association of educators of multilingual learners in Massachusetts. MATSOL’s mission is to promote equity and excellence in the education of multilingual learners.

Request for Qualifications:

All opportunities are part-time contract positions. Qualifications will be considered on a rolling basis for current and upcoming projects as need arises. 

View MATSOL RFQs

Massachusetts SEI Endorsement Course Survey

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Massachusetts Association of Teachers of Speaker of Other Languages (MATSOL), in partnership with the Massachusetts Department of Elementary and Secondary Education (DESE), is conducting a third-party, independent survey of Massachusetts educators to evaluate and review the Massachusetts Sheltered English Instruction (SEI) Endorsement Courses for teachers and administrators. 

The goal of the survey is to gather feedback on course content and materials and on the course’s effectiveness in meeting instructional goals. Information gathered from this survey will support DESE’s future revisions of the SEI Endorsement Course.

Who should participate?

We invite participation by educators who have experience or familiarity with the SEI Endorsement Courses (Teacher, CVTE and/or Administrator courses), including:

  • Instructors of the SEI Teacher, CVTE and Administrator Endorsement courses offered by DESE-approved PD providers as well as instructors in SEI Teacher Endorsement Courses in college and university teacher preparation programs;
  • Teachers, administrators and other educators working in the Massachusetts public schools;
  • Providers of professional development or coaching in Massachusetts;
  • Faculty in teacher preparation programs in Massachusetts;
  • Researchers of Massachusetts public schools.

The survey will be open from February 27 to March 12, 2023.

Take the SEI Endorsement Course Survey

Higher Ed for All

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Affordable high-quality public higher education is essential to expand opportunity  in all of our communities and create a more equitable and prosperous Commonwealth, including multilingual students.

MATSOL has joined the Higher Ed For All Coalition to advocate for fully funded community colleges, state universities and UMass campuses. The Coalition proposes the following actions to knock down the barriers that too many potential college graduates encounter – and to create a public higher education system that demonstrates its respect for workers by providing fair wages and working conditions.

The coalition’s goals include:

  • A debt-free college plan that covers not just tuition and fees but also living expenses, including food and housing
  • Expansion of existing programs that support student success and address staffing shortages
  • Recruitment and retention of high-quality and experienced faculty and staff – and make it possible for them to meet the needs of their students, particularly those who face the most significant challenges
  • Return to the historic model of public funding for public buildings on college and university campuses and include faculty and staff when assessing campus needs
Read the Campaign Goals

Advocacy Day at the State House

Tuesday, February 28
10:30am – 2:30pm
Massachusetts State House

Free round-trip bus transportation is available from: UMass Amherst, Ludlow Park & Ride, Auburn Park & Ride, Mass College of Liberal Arts, Greenfield Community College, Fitchburg State College, Bridgewater State College, UMass Boston, UMass Dartmouth, UMass Lowell, & Salem State. (You will receive a link to sign up for a bus after you register).

Register for Advocacy Day!

MATSOL Board of Directors – Call for Applications

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Do you want to help shape the future of MATSOL?

Are you passionate about promoting equity and excellence in the education of English learners?

Submit an application to join the MATSOL Board of Directors! 

MATSOL seeks a diverse range of committed and energetic members of MATSOL with a passion for our mission to take a leadership role, work on behalf of the organization, and represent MATSOL members and stakeholders.

The MATSOL board encourages members to apply:

  • who have a strong commitment to racial justice, diversity, equity, and inclusion.
  • who are from backgrounds not historically represented on the Board of Directors including diverse racial, ethnic, and linguistic backgrounds.
  • who represent different educational sectors serving English learners (including but not limited to PK12, higher education, adult education), job types, and at different stages of their careers.
  • who represent diverse professions and experiences within the field of education of multilingual learners.

Deadline to apply: March 1, 2023

Find out more!

Advocacy Alert! Public comment on proposed changes to MCAS requirement for graduation

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The Massachusetts Board of Elementary and Secondary Education voted to put the following regulatory changes out for public comment. The proposal is to raise the MCAS passing standard for the high school Competency Determination starting with the class of 2026 (this fall’s ninth graders) and changes to the Educational Proficiency Plan and other supports for students’ academic success.

MATSOL is planning to submit comments on behalf of our organization and we are asking for your input and examples to include in the comment. Submit your input to MATSOL via this form to help inform our response: https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/CYMHW67

You can also submit comments directly to DESE by following this link: https://www.doe.mass.edu/news/news.aspx?id=26763. Comments are due June 3, 2022.

DESE Board of Education Request for Public Comment on MCAS Proposal:

The proposed amendment would establish a new competency determination standard in English language arts, mathematics, and science and technology/engineering for students in the classes of 2026–2029.

Board members expressed particular interest in comments on:

1. The proposed new standard for students in the classes of 2026–2029:

  • Students in the classes of 2026–2029 would be required to earn a scaled score of 486 (the scaled score just beyond the midpoint within the Partially Meeting Expectations achievement level category) on the ELA, mathematics, and STE MCAS tests to earn their competency determination in those subjects.
  • Students in the classes of 2026–2029 who earn a scaled score of at least 470 (the lowest scaled score in the Partially Meeting Expectations achievement level) would not be required to take an MCAS retest or file an appeal, but they would be required to complete an Educational Proficiency Plan (EPP) in ELA and/or mathematics.

2. Whether a standard should be set now for students in the class of 2030 and beyond, and if so, whether the standard should be Meeting Expectations on the high school MCAS exams.

3. The proposed changes to the Educational Proficiency Plan and other supports for students’ academic success:

  • A requirement that the school provide a student’s EPP to their parents/guardians on an annual basis
  • A requirement to describe the tutoring or other individualized academic supports the student will receive
  • The establishment of different expectations for the EPP for students who are actively enrolled and successfully progressing in the Mass Core curriculum, an approved Chapter 74 vocational-technical program, or a designated Early College or Innovation Pathway program
  • Clarifications to the types of courses and assessments required in a student’s EPP
  • Clarifications around the expectation for adult learners, students who have exited high school without a CD, seniors who have already completed all their required courses in the relevant subject matter, students who are not continuously enrolled or are enrolled in an alternative program, and students who enroll in senior year