TRANSLATION SERVICES

FRESNO UNIFIED SCHOOL DISTRICT

One of the most important services our District can provide to its linguistically diverse community is communication in languages that are understandable to the parents of our students. This service can be provided by site staff or by personnel included on a list that is generated by the Office of Multilingual/Multicultural Education. If a site/district has 15% or more English Learners of a particular language in its total student population, the site/district is obliged to provide oral interpreter and written translation services to parents of these students. (CA Ed. Code Section 48985)

ORAL INTERPRETER GENERAL GUIDELINES

• The Office of Multilingual /Multicultural Education generates a list of qualifiedcertificated and classified personnel available within the District who canprovide oral interpreter services. This will be established in cooperation withthe Department of Human Resources.
• An additionallist is maintained by the Special Education Office of oral interpreters whohave been specifically trained on issues relating to Special Education needs.Some of these names may also be on the Multilingual list as well.
• As a generalrule, school sites will be responsible for the funding of the necessary oralinterpreters. The funding source will be dependent upon the job assignment. TheSpecial Education Office pays for oral interpreting of IEP meetings.
• Bilingualinstructional support staff should conduct the oral interpreter service aftertheir regular instructional day. Bilingual special education assistants mayconduct oral interpreter services during their regular instructional day whenthey are assisting a teacher who has assessment, parent, and IEP meeting responsibilities as part of theirinstructional day.
• Sites areencouraged to use their own bilingual staff or the bilingual staff of nearbysites for general oral interpreting.
• Every effortwill be made not todisrupt any instruction time of the bilingual professional.

Under no circumstances will students be used for any confidential parent conferences such as discipline or report card conferences.

FRESNO UNIFIED SCHOOL DISTRICT ORAL INTERPRETER MATRIX

*Trained by the Special Education Office to assist in the Special Education IEP process

FRESNO UNIFIED SCHOOL DISTRICT

One of the most important services our District can provide to its linguistically diverse community is communication in languages that are understandable to the parents of our students. This service can be provided by site staff or by personnel included on a list that is generated by the Office of Multilingual /Multicultural Education. If a site/district has 15% or more English Learners of a particular language in its total student population, the site/district is obliged to provide oral interpreter and written translation services to parents of these students. (CA Ed. Code Section 48985)

Please remember your audience when writing communications that will be translated. Non‑educators /parents may not readily understand our terminologies, abbreviations, phrases, or acronyms.

WRITTEN TRANSLATION GENERAL GUIDELINES

1.    Bilingual Instructional Assistants (BIAS) may be used for simple translations since they have been assessed in their oral and writing skills by passing the reading [writing section of the BIA exam.

2. Schools wishing to use other bilingual paraprofessionals; need to ensure that such individuals have been assessed through the process established by the Department of Human Resources.
3. On site bilingual staff members (Bilingual Instructional Assistants, Home School Liaisons, Bilingual Teachers, and parent volunteers) may provide written translation services. However, it is recommended that a second qualified person proofread all translations prior to distribution.
4. Translation services are provided through the Office of Multilingual/Multicultural Education. Ample time must be given for translation services to be rendered.
   • Lengthy and detailed documents require extensive time to translate. Please plan accordingly to allow as much time as possible for the translation process.
     1. A second translator proofreads all translations prior to their being forwarded.
   • The time needed to complete a translation will vary depending on:
     1. Length and complexity of document.
     2. District seasonal demands.
     3. Current and pending workload.
     4. Date received.
   • Written communications to be translated should be sent to the Office of Multilingual /Multicultural Education, attention: Translations Processor. These must include a completed District Written Translation Request Form (#3950OP6187391 5M). This form is available through the warehouse.
   • All documents to be translated need to be in final draft form/camera ready. To expedite the translating process, send documents to be translated via GroupWise or Netscape to the Multilingual Office; the Translations Processor will complete the District written Translation Request Form. Completed translations (Spanish and Hmong) will be returned to the site using GroupWise. Due to the special fonts needed for Lao and Khmer languages, these completed translations win be saved and transmitted from the Multilingual Office to the site/office in PDF format (which requires Acrobat Reader) and then sent via GroupWise to the site/office. These formats are permanent and cannot be manipulated at the receiving end.
   • All translations are done on PageMaker 7.0 unless otherwise requested. Translators have Microsoft Word and PowerPoint software programs, which are used upon request.
   • jobs are assigned on a first come/first served basis. You will be notified by telephone or District email should your requested completion date be delayed.
   • For information regarding translation needs or concerns please call the Translations Processor at 457-3928.
5. Spanish, Hmong, Lao, and Khmer translations are completed at the Office of Multilingual/Multicultural Education at no direct cost to the site.
   • Additional language translations can be contracted by the site itself as needed through bilingual community members. Site funds must be used. Sites may call the Translations Processor, at 457‑3928 for possible referrals.
6. All Individualized Educational Plans (IEPs) that need to be translated should be sent to the Special Education Office. Special Education will forward IEP translations other than Spanish or Hmong to be translated at the Office of Multilingual/Multicultural Education.

FRESNO UNIFIED SCHOOL DISTRICT WRITTEN TRANSLATION MATRIX

*Official or legal documents
**Depends on the source of work fix, Title 1, EIA/LEP District funds, etc.)
***Depends an agreement between contractor and the Office of Multilingual/Multicultural Education