From Every State, For Every Student: Vista Higher Learning at Language Advocacy Days 2026
This March, Vista Higher Learning joined educators, students, and advocates from across the country in Washington, DC for Language Advocacy Days 2026 (LAD26), the flagship annual event of the Joint National Committee for Languages-National Council for Languages and International Studies (JNCL-NCLIS). As the premier sponsor, Vista Higher Learning was proud to help power two days of training, connection, and policy conversations on Capitol Hill, all centered on one shared goal: ensuring every student in America has access to high-quality language education.
This year, LAD26 brought together voices from all 50 states under the theme “From Every State, For Every Student.” Participants received advocacy training, learned how to frame their stories for lawmakers, and then took those stories directly to congressional offices to make the case for robust, sustained investment in language education.
Why Vista Higher Learning Showed Up
For Vista Higher Learning, sponsoring and attending LAD26 was a natural extension of its ongoing commitment to elevating the role of world languages in K–20 education and beyond. From research-driven curriculum to advocacy resources that help educators “make the case” for language programs, Vista Higher Learning’s mission is to expand access to language learning and to support educators as they prepare students for a multilingual world—one in which language skills open doors to college pathways, careers, and long-term economic opportunity.
“Our work has always been about more than textbooks or digital platforms,” said John Tweeddale, General Manager, Higher Education, Vista Higher Learning. “When we invest in advocacy events like LAD26, we’re standing alongside educators and students to affirm that language learning is essential to our country’s future—not only culturally and civically, but as a critical foundation for economic mobility, workforce readiness, and opportunity in an increasingly interconnected world.”
Connecting Classrooms to Capitol Hill
Over the course of the event, the Vista Higher Learning team members joined state delegations in meetings with senators, representatives, and staff to discuss the realities of language education in classrooms today—what’s working, what’s at risk, and where targeted federal and state investment can have outsized impact for students, institutions, and the workforce pipelines that depend on multilingual talent.
“Our conversations on the Hill reinforced something we hear from educators every day,” shared Kathy Jiménez, Director of Marketing for K–12 programs at Vista Higher Learning. “Language programs are central to preparing students for a global workforce, but they’re also incredibly vulnerable to budget cuts. Advocacy days like this give educators and students a platform to show lawmakers what’s at stake.”
For Vista Higher Learning, these meetings were an opportunity to connect real student stories—about access, equity, and opportunity—with broader policy goals. They also highlighted how K–12 and higher education are deeply intertwined when it comes to language pathways, from introductory courses in middle school to advanced study and teacher preparation programs in college.
Elevating K–12 and Higher Ed Voices
A key strength of LAD26 is the way it centers student and educator voices from across the K–20 continuum. This year, state delegations included robust student participation, including high school students who spoke firsthand about how language learning has shaped their academic paths, their identities, and their future ambitions.
“In every session, you could feel how powerful it was when students spoke up,” noted Lyndsey Sciba, Director of Marketing for Higher Education Programs at Vista Higher Learning. “They weren’t just talking about credits or requirements. They were talking about belonging, cultural connection, and doors that opened because they learned another language.”
From the K–12 perspective, Jenni Kilmore, Director of World Language Curriculum, K–12, at Vista Higher Learning, emphasized how critical it is to protect and expand language offerings—especially in communities where programs are at risk. “Teachers are fighting to keep programs alive, sometimes one course at a time,” she said. “Our role as a partner is not only to provide high-quality materials, but also to stand with teachers in advocacy efforts like LAD26.”
Kilmore added, “This was my seventh time participating in Advocacy Days. There is something so humbling about representing the voices of teachers and students while sitting with Congressional delegates and staff. They really care about this issue because it resonates with so many and they see the impact of our work. It is also very unifying and impactful to know that simultaneously, someone from every state is having the same conversation with their representatives. In the end, it really does make a difference, and we must continue to use our voices to advocate for language and literacy education.”
A Shared Mission with JNCL-NCLIS
Vista Higher Learning’s sponsorship of LAD26 builds on a shared commitment with JNCL-NCLIS to advancing policies that recognize language learning as a fundamental right and as a core component of a high-quality education. JNCL-NCLIS provides the policy expertise, the network, and the infrastructure that make national events like Language Advocacy Days possible, while organizations like Vista Higher Learning help amplify that work through strategic support and sustained engagement.
“JNCL-NCLIS plays a unique role in connecting what happens in classrooms with what happens in Congress,” said Tweeddale. “Vista Higher Learning is honored to partner with them as they lead the charge on behalf of language educators and learners nationwide.”
Advocacy Is Ongoing
As Language Advocacy Days concluded in Washington, one message stood out: Advocacy does not end when participants leave Capitol Hill. Vista Higher Learning will continue to provide resources, insights, and platforms that help educators and institutions advocate for language programs in their own communities, from local school boards to statehouses and federal agencies. Sustained investment in language education is not only an investment in academic programs, but in the skills, adaptability, and global awareness that students will carry into their communities and careers.
“Language Advocacy Days is a powerful reminder that our field has a collective voice,” Jiménez reflected. “Vista Higher Learning is committed to using our voice, our resources, and our partnerships to ensure that every student—no matter their ZIP code—has access to meaningful language learning opportunities.”
As Vista Higher Learning looks ahead, that commitment remains clear: to support educators, elevate student stories, and champion the policies and investments that will sustain language education for generations to come.
- To learn more about LAD26, visit https://www.languagepolicy.org/lad26
- To learn more about Vista Higher Learning’s partnership with JNCL-NCLIS, visit https://learn.vistahigherlearning.com/commitment/take-action.html#section-2
