There are different ways you can tell ACPS staff that you are in the need of Translation and Interpretation Services:

• When you register your child at ACPS, please let the staff member (Registrar) know your preferred language of communication.
• If you are at an ACPS school or office, look for the "Interpretation Services Available" poster. Then, point to your language and an ACPS staff member will contact an interpreter over the phone.

"Interpretation Services Available" poster

• If your language is not on the poster, please ask for a "Language Identification Guide," which contains more than 100 languages.

Language Line is an over-the-phone service that allows multilingual families to communicate with their child's school in a culturally sensitive manner using their native language.

Families dial a toll-free number (1-833-611-1667) when assistance is needed in their home language, and are then paired with an interpreter before connecting with the school.

When families call the toll-free number, they are greeted by an automated message, recorded in their preferred language. After hearing the greeting message and selecting their school from the menu provided, a qualified interpreter is connected to the call. Parents and the interpreter are then connected to the specific school front office for further service.

Oral interpreters are available to assist ACPS families when meeting at your child's school or attending an ACPS activity.

To request this service please notify your child's school more than 5 schools days in advance to ensure availability.

Interpreters can be provided for a variety of meetings such as Parent-Teacher Conferences, Child Study meetings, Special Education Eligibility meetings, and IEP meetings. Interpreters can also assist during school activities such as Back-to-school nights, PTA Meetings, workshops, and more.

ACPS translates division-wide documents to support school-parent communications. These documents include but are not limited to division and school policies, emergency information, registration and enrollment forms, health and safety information, student permission forms, disciplinary letters, parent handbooks and fact sheets, academic options and planning, information regarding access to functions or co-curricular activities, report cards, and program-specific information.

Please let the school staff knows if there is a document that you need help to understand.

Contact the Office of EL Services, Translation and Interpretation services at 703-619-8347, or the Family and Community Engagement (FACE) Center at 703-619-8055.

If you have any questions or would like to request an interpreter or translator, please ask an ACPS staff member for assistance.

All requests must be made at least five (5) school days in advance of the service date. Requests for prescheduled events, such as Back-to-School Nights and Parent/Teacher Conferences, must be sent with more time in advance due to higher demand.

If you need to borrow extra Simultaneous Interpretation equipment, please type a note in the "Comments" field of the Interpreter Request Form at least five (5) school days in advance indicating how many transmitters, microphones, receivers, and headsets are needed and who will be picking them up.

Equipment must be picked up from the EL Welcome Center located in the Central Office lobby between 8:30 a.m. and 5:00 p.m. on the day of your event (or the day before if your event is taking place early in the morning). Equipment must be returned by 5:00 p.m. the following day.

Please turn off authentication through Clever when you set up the meeting in Zoom.

• Interpreter Request Form
• Interpreter Cancellation Form
• Interpretation Feedback Form
• Interpretation through Zoom Guide
• Virtual Parent-Teacher Conferences with Interpretation

All requests must be made at least ten (10) school days in advance. Please keep in mind that the time needed and delivery date may vary depending on the length of the document(s).

• Guidelines for Written Translations (PDF)
• Vital Documents Translation Request Form
• Translation Feedback form

Examples of Vital Documents for Translation
Within ACPS, vital documents for translation are prioritized in an effort to facilitate and increase meaningful communication between ACPS and students/families. When possible, documents should be clear and concise. To that end, large documents do not need to be translated in their entirety, but rather a summary of the vital information from the document can be translated. In addition, in situations in which documents cannot be translated, the use of interpreters can facilitate communication.

Examples of vital documents/information may include:

• Division and school policies, rules, and regulations, including the Student Code of Conduct.
• Emergency information and emergency letters for parents.
• Registration/enrollment forms and other such forms are most commonly used by the division to communicate with parents.
• Health and safety information.
• Disciplinary letters, notices, and procedures.
• Parent handbooks and fact sheets.
• Information regarding student achievement and performance on academic assessments.
• Information related to providing children with disabilities with a free appropriate public education (FAPE) under the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA) and Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973; including notice of procedural safeguards.
• Academic options and planning, including talented and gifted programs, alternative language programs, counseling and guidance services, and supplemental educational services.
• Information related to school and parent programs, meetings and other activities and notifications as related to the parental involvement policy, including parent-teacher conferences.
• Information regarding access to functions or co-curricular activities.