English Language Learner KnowledgeBase for Administrators & Teachers

Documents Translated into Other Languages

This document offers a checklist of the type of documents that should be translated in the languages of the predominant foreign speaking student populations.

Casa Notes

As noted at its website, "Casa Notes is designed to allow teachers to make and customize typical notes that are sent home to parents or given to the students. This is done by using templates and allowing the teachers to customize some of the content, choose a color scheme and add a graphic. The notes can then be printed on a black-and-white or color printer. Teachers can select whether the notes should be in English or in Spanish."

Glossaries of Special Education Terminology

This resource includes several glossaries of special education terminology which provide the respective English terminology in Hmong, Spanish and Somali. 

Interpreter/Translation Services

This resource provides links to interpreter/translation services. The SC3 and C3 Comprehensive Centers have not reviewed, nor endorsed these services. They are provided for information purposes only.

Language Resource List

This form is designed to help school personnel maintain a list of translators and interpreters available from outside sources, such as other districts, community organizations and government agencies.

Alternate format: PDF

Translated Materials

This resource provides links to websites with special education-related documents translated into various foreign languages.

A Parents' Guide to ESSA

This guide aims to help parents like you understand the flexibility provided to states and school districts in the Every Student Succeeds Act (ESSA), which amended the Elementary and Secondary Education Act, a landmark federal education law. We know that parents are the most important advocates for their children. Because states and school districts have significant flexibility in how they meet the requirements of the law, you have an opportunity to influencehow they use that flexibility to best help your child. We hope that this document empowers you with information that will help you advocate for better education for your child and every child in your state and district and help you make the right choices for your family. Betsy DeVos -Secretary of Education

Code of Professional Conduct and Business Practices

This document offers the American Translators Association's code of ethics for professional translators. The code is a useful guide for district staff members to know what should be expected of interpreters and translators.

Individualized Education Program (IEP) Guide from the U.S. Department of Education

The U.S. Department of Education has produced this reference guide for the IEP process.

Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act (FERPA)

FERPA is a federal law designed to protect the privacy of student education records. The law applies to all schools receiving funds under any applicable U.S. Department of Education program. School districts should ensure all staff members and outside contractors, such as counselors and interpreters, are familiar with the applicable policies on the privacy of student records.

Translator Services Policy

School districts will be using translators to assist building staff interact with family members of an ELL student. The sample policy on the use of translators is offered to illustrate one approach to using bilingual building and district staff to assist as translators. It is provided as an example for central office staff responsible for district's alternative language program.

Tips for ELL Parent Involvement

The content and thoughts for this document were derived from interviews conducted with ELL practitioners from several Nebraska school districts. The article offers practical ideas for encouraging ELL parents to be involved with their child's school.

American Translators Association's Online Directories

This American Translators Association website provides access to searchable databases of individual translators and interpreters and language service companies.

Educational Interpreting Services

This Virginia Department of Education pamphlet provides a general description of educational interpreting services. Though intended for Virginia educators, its content may be useful to educators in other states.

Key Terms

This link to the Teaching Reading K-2 Workshop website provides a glossary of key terms associated with early literacy.

Office of Special Education Programs (OSEP) Technical Assistance Center on Positive Behavioral Interventions and Supports

This link is to the U.S. Department of Education's OSEP Technical Assistance Center on Positive Behavioral Interventions and Supports. The center provides capacity-building information and technical assistance for effective school-wide disciplinary practices.

Office of Special Education Programs (OSEP) Technical Assistance and Dissemination Network

This link is to the website for OSEP Technical Assistance and Dissemination Network.

Quality Indicators for Translation and Interpretation in Kindergarten Through Grade Twelve Educational Services - Guidelines and Resources for Educators

This California Department of Education document was developed to assist educators who might serve as translators and interpreters or who work in multilingual educational settings. Its purpose is to improve the quality of translations of parental notifications and other documents into languages other than English and to ensure more appropriate and effective interpreting practices. Though intended for California educators, educators in other states may find the content useful

Working with Translators and Interpreters

This resource provides a collection of documents about different aspects of working with translators and interpreters.

Writing to Linguistically Diverse Audiences

Writing effectively for an audience with a wide variety of backgrounds is difficult. This page provides several resources to help writers craft their message to reach the widest possible audience.