Interpretation and Translation

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Schools must communicate with all parents in a language they can understand. This includes notifying limited-English proficient parents - in a language they can understand - about all programs, services, and activities that are called to the attention of other parents.

Relevant Laws & Guidance

Language Access Planning

Developing a language access plan is critical to ensuring that your school district communicates effectively with families with limited-English proficiency and for a subset of school districts, it is required by state law.

Self-Assessment

The Language Access Self-Assessment serves to help identify a current baseline of language access services and to inform the creation of a language access plan.

Identifying Parents' Language Assistance Needs

School districts must have a process to determine parents' language needs, such as a home language survey or questions on an enrollment form about each parent's language needs. The OSPI Home Language Survey's Question #1 can be helpful for this data collection.

OSPI Home Language Survey Translated in 40 Languages

Language Access Service Evaluation

Beginning with the 2023-24 school year, districts are to provide participants in interpreted initial IEPs, annual IEPs, or disciplinary reengagement meetings an opportunity to provide feedback on the effectiveness of interpretation and language access services. This template can be used for those purposes. It may be adapted as appropriate by the district.

 

Informing Families About Their Rights

Schools should take steps to inform parents that free translation and interpretation services are available and how to request these services.

  • Important Document Notice
    If a situation arises when a school is unable to translate a document immediately, consider including a notice on the document, translated into the parent's primary language (e.g. on pre-printed stickers) informing families that they can contact the school to have the document translated.
    Sample Important Document Notice - in 22 languages
  • Poster: We Can Help You in Your Language!
    Use this multi-language poster to inform families how to request an interpreter or a translated document.

Interpreters & Translators

  • Qualified, Competent Interpreters and Translators
    Schools must provide language assistance to limited-English proficient families effectively with appropriate, competent staff-or appropriate and competent outside resources. It is not sufficient for the staff merely to be bilingual. For example, some bilingual staff and community volunteers may be able to communicate directly with limited-English proficient families in a different language, but not be competent to interpret in and out of English (e.g., consecutive or simultaneous interpreting). Schools should ensure that interpreters and translators have knowledge in both languages of any specialized terms or concepts to be used in the communication at issue. In addition, schools should ensure that interpreters and translators are trained on the role of an interpreter or translator, the ethics of interpreting or translating, and the need to maintain confidentiality.

Other Resources