SECTION 1. The purpose of this Act is to support implementation of language access rights that are firmly embedded in federal law as well as founded on liberty and privacy interests protected by the due process clause and equal protection clauses of the Fourteenth Amendment, as recognized by the United States Supreme Court.  Federal and state law, and implementing regulations, require school committees to communicate with Limited English Proficient (LEP) parents in a language that parents can understand by providing competent, trained interpreters in order to ensure that LEP Parents have access to and participation in their children’s educational programs to the same extent as English-speaking parents.  While the right to effective language access with appropriate, competent interpreters is well established, this Act sets forth a clear system of certification for interpreters who are qualified to interpret in educational settings.  This will assist schools in delivering the language access services they are required to provide in an effective and efficient manner. Further, this Act will be implemented in phases, with the requirement first going into effect in school districts designated as chronically underperforming pursuant to MGL Chapter 69 section 1K.   The initial implementation of the Act in schools designated as chronically underperforming will provide these districts with an additional tool to help them reach the required annual goals of their turnaround plan.  This phased implementation will also allow for close examination of the implementation of this Act and determine and resolve any barriers to full implementation, thus ensuring effective and efficient operation of the Act when it is implemented statewide

SECTION 2. Chapter 69 of the General Laws is hereby amended by adding the following section:

Section 37. Certification of Interpreters in educational settings.

(1)The following words, unless the context clearly indicates otherwise, shall have the following meanings:

“Limited English Proficient (LEP) Person” means individual who has a limited ability to read, write, speak, or understand English because the person uses primarily a language other than English. This includes LEP parents or guardians of minor children, regardless of the children’s LEP status.

“Interpretation” means the immediate oral rendering of an utterance from a source language into a target language.

“Interpreter” means a person who is readily able to interpret spoken language simultaneously and consecutively from English to the target language and from the target language to English.

“Certified Interpreter” means an interpreter who has been duly certified by the Department of Elementary and Secondary Education in accordance with MGL ch 69 section 37(4). 

“Competent interpreter” means interpreter who has not been duly certified by the Department of Elementary and Secondary Education but satisfies the requirements of federal and state law.

“Parent” means a natural, adoptive, or foster parent of a child, a guardian, or an individual acting in the place of a natural or adoptive parent (including a grandparent, stepparent, or other relative) with whom the child lives, or an individual who is legally responsible for the child’s welfare.

(2)The Department of Elementary and Secondary Education shall adopt regulations addressing:

(a) Specific subject matter knowledge, skills, and competencies required of interpreters practicing in educational settings. Skills and competencies shall include, but not be limited to, fluency in the languages interpreted, familiarity with specialized concepts and terms used in the planning and implementation of educational programming, and awareness of the interpreter’s function in educational settings, including issues of confidentiality and ethics.

(b) Confidentiality and ethics for interpreters working in educational settings. The proposed regulations shall ensure that interpreters: protect confidentiality, remain impartial, interpret communications accurately and objectively, demonstrate familiarity with educational and psychological terminology and practices, demonstrate awareness of and sensitivity to the impact of cultural differences, understand the professional role and boundaries of interpreters and are informed of procedures and consequences for ethical violations.

(c) A system for assessment and certification of individuals seeking to provide interpreter services in educational settings, including requirement to incorporate renewal and maintenance of the individual’s certification.  The department shall establish and implement an assessment process to identify individuals who have gained the competencies required in (a-b) above and are granted certification to interpret in educational settings. The assessment process shall include, but not be limited to, assessing grammatical awareness, vocabulary, and the ability to interpret effectively from one language to another; understanding of the roles and responsibilities of an interpreter within the educational setting; understanding of concepts and vocabulary related to educational standards, curricula, planning, and student development; and knowledge of guidelines for professional conduct, including ethics and confidentiality.  In creating or identifying examinations to be used as part of  the assessment  process for interpreters in educational settings, the department may look to existing resources, assessments and examinations administered to interpreters in other fields, including but not limited to certified court interpreters pursuant to M.G.L. c. 221C, § 7; and medical interpreters pursuant to M.G.L. c. 111, § 25J, and assess the relevancy and cost efficiency of adopting said examinations, assessments, or aspects thereof, as part of the assessment of interpreters in educational settings.     

(d) Standards for renewal and maintenance of the individuals’ credentials as well as requirements for reassessment and continued professional development.

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(3) The Department shall oversee the process for reviewing assessments of individuals seeking certification to provide interpreter services in educational settings pursuant to section 37(3)(c).   The Department shall maintain a list of all individuals who have demonstrated the competencies necessary to be deemed certified to interpret in educational settings.  The Department shall ensure this list remains current.  

(4) Only individuals who have been duly certified by the Department pursuant to section 37(3)(c)   shall provide interpretation services in IEP meetings, school discipline hearings,  meetings held to address bullying concerns, and other meetings or communications  relevant to a student’s  educational rights, safety,  or  access to equal educational opportunities.  In all other instances, school committees must first attempt to secure certified interpreters, and, if certified interpreters are unavailable, school committees may engage the services of competent interpreters who have not been certified by the Department.

(5)(a) Section 37 (1), (2), (3) of this act shall take effect on January 1, 2021

(b) Section 37 (4) of this act shall take effect on July 1, 2021 only in school districts designated as chronically under performing pursuant to MGL Chapter 69 section 1K in order to enhance the ability of said districts to reach the  required annual goals of their turnaround plan, including but not limited to the goals focused on closing  the achievement gap for limited English-proficient students and the goals focused on increasing the engagement of  parents and families with limited English proficient children in order to maximize the rapid achievement of said  students. 

(c) With respect to school districts in the Commonwealth other than school districts designated as chronically under performing pursuant to MGL Chapter 69 section 1K, Section 37(4) shall take effect when certified as appropriate by the Department in a report to the general court.