Amendment #1258 to H4400

Language Interpreters in Educational Settings

Representatives Peisch of Wellesley, Khan of Newton, DiZoglio of Methuen, Lewis of Framingham, Dwyer of Woburn, Linsky of Natick, Puppolo of Springfield, Garballey of Arlington, Balser of Newton and Moran of Lawrence move to amend the bill by adding the following section:

“SECTION XXXX. The commissioner of elementary and secondary education shall convene a task force to study and develop recommendations on the training and certification of language interpreters in educational settings to improve language access for limited English proficient parents. The task force shall be comprised of the following members or their designees: the commissioner of elementary and secondary education or a designee who shall serve as chair; the executive director of the Massachusetts Association of School Superintendents or a designee; the executive director of Massachusetts Administrators for Special Education; a representative from a professional educational interpreters program in a university in Massachusetts; a representative from the Massachusetts chapter of the Multistate Association of Bilingual Educators; a representative from Massachusetts Advocates for Children; and 2 parents to be designated by the Federation for Children with Special Needs.

The task force shall: (1) research the knowledge, skills, and competencies necessary to serve as an interpreter in school settings, including but not limited to (i) language proficiency, (ii) knowledge of education specific terminology and concepts, (iii) confidentiality and ethics of interpreting, and (iv) understanding of the role and function of an interpreter; (2) investigate existing interpreter training programs and report on any changes to such programs that are necessary to appropriately train interpreters working in school settings; and (3) research existing interpreter assessments, certifications and credentials and report on changes needed to assess, certify, or credential interpreters working in school settings.

The task force shall use the findings of its research and study to develop recommendations on the following: (1) the knowledge, skill and competency requirements necessary to serve as an interpreter in school settings; (2) the training, assessment and certification of interpreters in school settings; and (3) what, if any, endorsements, certifications, credentials and/or assessments should be established by the board of elementary and secondary education to ensure a reasonable supply of qualified interpreters for use in school settings.

The task force shall report to the general court the results of its investigation and study and its recommendations together with drafts of legislation necessary to carry out such recommendations, if any, by filing the same with the clerks of the senate and house who shall forward the same to the chairs of the joint committee on education no later than December 31, 2018.”

Additional co-sponsor(s) added to Amendment #1258 to H4400

Language Interpreters in Educational Settings