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SUPTS. MEMO. NO. 16
April 4, 1997 |
| TO: | Division Superintendents |
| FROM: | Richard T. La Pointe
Superintendent of Public Instruction |
| SUBJECT: | Survey: Educational Interpreters for Students Using Sign Language |
Your attention is called to Regulations Governing Special Education Programs for Children with Disabilities in Virginia which require, at 3.3 - C. (p.30), that persons providing interpreting services for students using sign language or cued speech must hold a Virginia Quality Assurance Screening (VQAS) Level III, or any Registry of Interpreters for the Deaf (RID) Certificate (excluding Certificate of Deaf Interpretation) or any national cued speech association certification. Further, Special Education Program Standards provide that persons employed for the 1994-95 school year or before must achieve this level by the fall of 1997. Persons employed after the 1994-95 school year must achieve this level by the third anniversary of their employment date. A one-year, non- renewable waiver may be requested for persons who have not achieved the Level III by the required date. These standards also permit a one-year non-renewable waiver for persons without any VQAS or RID certification. However, persons must achieve a VQAS Level I by the first anniversary of their employment date. The attached survey is to provide to the Department information about the number of educational interpreters currently employed by local school divisions and their status relative to certification and employment. This information will assist the Department of Education and the Department for the Deaf and Hard of Hearing to determine the current availability of qualified educational interpreters, to evaluate the current special education requirements pertaining to interpreters, and to assess the need for continuing training to assist interpreters in reaching the required level. Please return the completed survey by May 2, 1997 to Ms. Ossie Lawrence, Office of Special Education and Student Services. Questions may be referred to Lissa Power-deFur at (804) 225-2818 or via e-mail at lpower-de@pen.k12.va.us. Thank you for your cooperation in this matter. RTL/hdc