DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION
P.O.
SUPTS. MEMO NO. 194
September 14, 2007
INFORMATIONAL
|
TO: |
Division
Superintendents |
|
FROM: |
Billy K.
Cannaday, Jr. Superintendent
of Public Instruction |
|
SUBJECT: |
Educational
Interpreter Qualifications and Training Opportunities |
Educational interpreters
play a valuable role in the education of many children who are deaf or hard of
hearing. These children depend on the
interpreter for their mastery of material and their ability to communicate with
teachers and peers. In many cases, the
educational interpreter is also the childs primary language model. The Regulations Governing Special
Education Programs for Children with Disabilities in Virginia include qualification requirements for personnel providing
interpreting services in
The Virginia Department of
Education (VDOE) offers funds for professional
development opportunities to enable persons who provide interpreting services
to receive training and mentoring to achieve the necessary skills to meet state
qualification requirements. These funds are dispersed to school divisions on a
regional basis. A grant coordinator in each region works with each interpreter
to develop a training plan and ensures that training is aligned with the plan.
Attachment F provides a list of the regional grant coordinators who may be
contacted regarding training opportunities.
As a condition of participating in the grant, each
division/state-operated program human resource director must certify that
efforts were made to recruit qualified interpreters (Attachment D), and that
all interpreters who do not meet the qualification standards will participate
in grant funded activities (assessment, training, or mentoring) as a condition
of employment (Attachment E). A system
should be in place to monitor their progress at the division level. This certification should be submitted to the
Department of Education upon employment.
Waivers for interpreters who do not meet state standards should be
submitted at the beginning of each school year and as new interpreters are
hired (Attachment C).
For further information about interpreter
qualification requirements or to submit a waiver, contact Dr. Debbie Pfeiffer,
Department of Education, Office of Special Education
Instructional Services at (804) 371-4059 or Debbie.Pfeiffer@doe.virginia.gov
BKCJr/dlp
Attachments
http://www.doe.virginia.gov/administrators/superintendents_memos/2007/inf194a.pdf
http://www.doe.virginia.gov/administrators/superintendents_memos/2007/inf194b.pdf
http://www.doe.virginia.gov/administrators/superintendents_memos/2007/inf194c.doc
http://www.doe.virginia.gov/administrators/superintendents_memos/2007/inf194d.doc
http://www.doe.virginia.gov/administrators/superintendents_memos/2007/inf194e.doc
http://www.doe.virginia.gov/administrators/superintendents_memos/2007/inf194f.pdf