Status Update: As of the end of May, the
Educational Interpreter Standards discussed herein have
been adopted by the California Department of
Education for implementation by 2007! Educational
interpreters working in California public schools will
need to have RID certification "or equivalent" by this
date to continue working as an interpreter in a public
school setting. While there is no provision for
"grandfathering", there will be a waiver process - it is
expected, however, that educational interpreters do what
is necessary to become certified by the implementation
date in 2007.
April, 2002
Dear CAL-ED and IMPACT,
Re: Standards for Educational Interpreters
On March 7, 2002, the California Department of
Education presented to the State Board of Education our
recommendation for regulatory language defining
qualification standards for educational interpreters for
deaf and hard of hearing students in
California.
Currently in California, there are NO qualifications
standards for educational interpreters for deaf and hard
of hearing students. Our recommendation to the
Board is this: Any educational interpreter employed as of
January 1, 2007, must be certified by the Registry of
Interpreters for the Deaf (RID) or equivalent, or if
providing cued speech interpreting services, by any
certifying body recognized by the National Cued Speech
Association (NCSA).
On March 7, the State Board voted to send the proposed
regulations out for a 45-day public input period.
On May 30, 2002, the State Board will hold a public
hearing regarding these proposed standards. The
public hearing will be at 11:00 a.m. at the California
Department of Education, 721 Capitol Mall (Room 166),
Sacramento, CA. Both CAL-ED and IMPACT
participated in the process of developing these
standards, and both organizations voted to support the
recommended standards. I am hoping that many CAL-ED
and IMPACT member will provide input to the Board
regarding the need for qualified educational
interpreters.
Requests to present oral statements at the public
hearing or written comments for the State Board's
consideration should be directed to:
Pat McGinnis, Regulations Adoptions Coordinator
California Department of Education
721 Capitol Mall, Room 552
P.O. Box 944272
Sacramento, CA 94244-2720
Telephone: (916)657-4669
Fax: (916) 657-3844
E-mail: pmcginni@cde.ca.gov
Rationale for certification
standards for educational interpreters:
1. Deaf and hard of hearing children in
mainstream programs must be guaranteed quality
educational interpreter services in order to be assured
equal access to the curriculum and instruction in their
classrooms. Deaf and hard of hearing children, like all
children in California, must complete a rigorous course
of study and pass a high stakes high school exit exam in
order to earn a diploma of high school graduation.nIf
they do not have equal access to instruction, they are
not being given an equal opportunity to earn a high
school diploma.
2. The California Department of Education has
received numerous complaints from parents and students
regarding the quality of educational interpreting
services in the public schools.
3. The IDEA '97 Regulations mandated that State
Education Agencies establish standards of qualification
for educational interpreters.
History:
In 1988, the United States Congress (in its report
"Towards Equality") said that the law requires that "deaf
students be integrated into regular classrooms to the
maximum extent possible, but if quality interpreting
services are not provided, that goal becomes a mockery."
Congress said that responsibility for establishing
qualification standards rests with the State Education
Agencies and the National Registry of Interpreters for
the Deaf (RID). (In other words, Congress told us 14
years ago what we need to do. It's time to do
it!)
In 1989, the National Task Force Report on Educational
Interpreting told us that educational interpreters should
be certified by a nationally recognized certifying body,
such as the RID.
In 1994, the National Association of State Directors
of Special Education (NASDSE) recommended that
educational interpreters should be "fully certified".
In 1999, the regulations pursuant to the IDEA '97 told
us that "In order for interpreters to provide appropriate
instruction or services to children with disabilities who
require an interpreter in order to receive FAPE (Free and
Appropriate Public Education), States must ensure that
these individuals meet appropriate State qualifications
standards. The Code of Federal Regulations defines
"qualified personnel" as personnel who have met state
education agency-approved or -recognized certification,
licensing, registration, or other comparable requirements
that apply to the area in which the individuals are
providing special education or related services.
Clearly, it is time we set the standard!
Why did we choose "RID certification or
equivalent"?
We borrowed this terminology from 2 other state laws
(the Welfare and Institutions Code and the Unemployment
Insurance Code) that require interpreters to be RID
certified or equivalent. Using the same terminology
allows us to have a consistent standard in the state.
Using the term "or equivalent" allows us the
flexibility to consider other certifications or
assessments that currently exist (such NAD, EIPA,
ESSE) or that may be developed in the future. Using the
term "or equivalent" also protects us in the unlikely
event that the RID folds and is unable to assess and
certify interpreters.
PLEASE SEND YOUR INPUT TO THE STATE BOARD BY
CONTACTING PAT MCGINNIS BY MAIL, FAX, OR
E-MAIL.
If you have questions regarding the regulations
themselves, please contact me:
Nancy Grosz Sager
Deaf and Hard of Hearing Programs Consultant
California Department of Education
428 J Street, Suite 550
Sacramento, CA 95814
Telephone: (916) 327-3868
Fax: (916) 445-4550
E-mail: nsager@cde.ca.gov
