Effective January 22, 2021, the Illinois State Board of Education (ISBE) amended its administrative rules to include a number of requirements relating to the provision of interpreter services for parents/guardians during IEP meetings. Many school districts are choosing to include Section 504 meetings in the same category. ISBE is in the process of developing language to be included in notification of conferences (NOC), procedural safeguards, etc., that conforms to the new rules. Until then, we have prepared sample language to assist you.
You will note that we have purposefully avoided using the phrase ‘preferred’ language (e.g., Klingon, Dothraki, etc.) for a number of reasons, not the least of which is because it might lead to further confusion for your families.
The new ISBE rules can be located in Section 226.530 at: https://www.isbe.net/Documents/226ark.pdf
Interpreter language for your NOC or email/letter to parents:
A: If you are able to insert language directly into the NOC itself:
Interpreter services are available to all parents/guardians. You have the right to request that the interpreter serve no other role in the IEP meeting other than as the interpreter and the District will make reasonable efforts to comply with your request. If you would like to request an interpreter or if you have any questions or complaints about interpretation services, please contact ___.
B. If you want to send an email or letter to all IEP and Section 504 parents:
Dear Parent/Guardian,
Attached to this email is a Notification of Conference for your child’s upcoming IEP meeting. In an effort to ensure all parents/guardians are able to meaningfully participation in IEP meetings, we want to take this opportunity to formally notify you that interpretation services are available to all parents/guardians during IEP and Section 504 meetings at no charge. In the event that you request interpretation services, you also have the right to request that the interpreter provided by the school district serve no other role in the IEP or Section 504 meeting than as an interpreter and we will make reasonable efforts to fulfill this request. To request an interpreter or if you have any questions or complaints about interpretation services, please contact [insert].
Sample statement to post on the school district’s website and/or include in the handbook to meet the annual notice requirements:
Public school districts are required to take whatever action is necessary to facilitate a parent or guardian’s understanding of and participation in IEP and Section 504 meetings. This includes the provision of interpreter services for parents/guardians whose native language is not English or a sign language interpreter for parents/guardians who are deaf or hard of hearing. In the absence of qualified interpreters on staff, school districts may use outside vendors, including telephonic interpreters. Parents/guardians have the right to request that an interpreter provided by the school district serve no other role during an IEP or Section 504 meeting, and the school district must make reasonable efforts to comply with that request. To request an interpreter or if you have any questions or complaints about interpretation services, please contact [insert].
Template of questions and/or statements to be included in the IEP or Section 504 meeting notes regarding interpreter services:
| Interpreter Services | |||
| Yes | No | N/A | |
| ☐ | ☐ | ☐ | Did the parent/guardian request an interpreter during this meeting? |
| ☐ | ☐ | ☐ | Did the parent/guardian request interpretation services in the past or otherwise indicate that an interpreter was necessary during previous meetings? |
| ☐ | ☐ | ☐ | Was an interpreter provided during this meeting? If yes, list the language here: |
| ☐ | ☐ | ☐ | Did the parent/guardian request that the interpreter provided by the school district serve no other role in the meeting other than as an interpreter? |
| ☐ | If an interpreter was requested, but not provided, list the reason here: | ||
| ☐ | If the parent/guardian requested that the interpreter serve only in that role, but in fact, served another role in this meeting, list the reason why: | ||
| ☐ | List the name of the individual or outside vendor that served in the role of the interpreter at this meeting: | ||
