Printer-friendly versionParents depend on basic school communications—report cards, bus schedules, permission slips—to stay involved in their children’s education. When a school fail to provide translation support to LEP families, these lines of communication can break down.
• Develop a written communications plan to ensure timely and effective communication with LEP parents.
• Maintain a list of LEP parents who require languages other than English and make this list available to all staff members.
• Notify LEP parents annually that free translation and interpretation services are available and explain how to request these services. A multi-language poster by the office explaining the resources available to LEP families can simplify communication.
• Provide free interpretation and translation services to LEP parents at parent-teacher conferences, meetings with the school principal and special education meetings.
• All parent notices (e.g., registration/enrollment forms, emergency notification cards, report cards, bus schedules, field trip permission forms, privacy policies and class schedules) should include appropriate translations.
• Train staff to effectively communicate with LEP parents—when and how to obtain qualified language assistance, use of interpreters when staff receive or make calls to language-minority individuals, and applicable recordkeeping procedures.
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Get Started
Have translated forms on hand.
• Change of Address of Telephone
• Student NOT Riding Bus
• Reason for Absence
• Request for Conference
• Early Dismissal
You can download a sample booklet of translated information and common documents here.
