Translation and Interpretation Services

What's Required

 § 29.005. Individualized Education Program. [Excerpt] (d) If the child's parent is unable to speak English, the district shall: (1) provide the parent with a written or audiotaped copy of the child's individualized education program translated into Spanish if Spanish is the parent's native language; or (2) if the parent's native language is a language other than Spanish, make a good faith effort to provide the parent with a written or audiotaped copy of the child's individualized education program translated into the parent's native language.
§ 300.322 (e) The public agency must take whatever action is necessary to ensure that the parent understands the proceedings of the IEP team meeting, including arranging for an interpreter for parents with deafness or whose native language is other than English.

34 CFR § 300.503(c) Notice in understandable language. (1) The notice required under paragraph (a) of this section must be - (i) Written in language understandable to the general public; and (ii) Provided in the native language of the parent or other mode of communication used by the parent, unless it is clearly not feasible to do so.
 

What We Do

To ensure that parents fully understand the ARD/IEP proceedings and are able to participate in all discussions related to the educational placement of their child or adult student, the meeting chairperson and all relevant staff must ensure the following:

• If the parent's/adult student's native language is Spanish, provide an audio copy of the translated IEP meeting in Spanish, during which each section and each required element of the IEP is discussed, even if there are no changes to the sections. The audio copy of the meeting must contain **all** required elements of the IEP.

• If the parent's/adult student's native language is a language other than Spanish, make a good faith effort to provide the parent/adult student with an audio copy of the translated IEP meeting in their native language.

• Check the audio equipment prior to the meeting, and place next to the interpreter/translator in order to obtain an audible recording.  Digital recording is encouraged.

• Check the recording at the conclusion of the meeting to ensure that it is audible.

• A copy of the recording will be kept in the student's special education folder. 

A translated summary of the meeting does not meet the requirement of the regulation. It is best practice to follow a set agenda including all the required elements of the IEP.  

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