Minnesota K-12 districts welcome their students back in a few weeks. The state’s student population is increasingly diverse, with over 84.000 PreK—12 students identified as English learners in 2024.
Besides statewide back to school events, schools hold Parent-Teacher conferences in October. For many limited English proficient (LEP) families, the conference may be their first point of contact with both teachers and school staff. The National Association of Educational Translators and Interpreters of Spoken Languages (NAETISL) Code of Ethics and Standards of Practice document details the importance of professional language services in education and the impact on family engagement and student achievement.
Public and charter schools that receive federal funds must have a Language Access Plan (LAP) for communicating with their limited English proficient (LEP) students and families. School district LAPs should include the services of professional language interpreters and translators whenever possible. Our experienced team partners with the continuum of district and school services including social workers, psychologists, secretaries, and school staff to support their LAPs. This collaborative approach is shown to support positive student, families and staff experiences and academic outcomes.
Uncertainty and confusion surrounding national, state and local language access requirements continues in public education. The Minnesota Department of Education’s (MDE) guide for parents and families new to the U.S. provides important information on K-12 education access and rights. If language access programs and resources are reduced or eliminated, Minnesota’s students, their families and school communities will be at a great disadvantage. Our language professionals support district language access plans, serve as cultural navigators, and help to build trust with LEP students and their families.
We are proud to be a State of Minnesota approved language services provider. Our highly qualified interpreters and translators adhere to a code of ethics and demonstrate professional conduct in all settings. In addition to conferences, our work with Minnesota’s schools and districts includes LEP general communications, distance learning, special education and due process, physical and occupational therapy including in person, face-to-face, video remote and telephone interpreting. Contact us to learn more.