1. Language Assistance Services
OCR Resolution Agreement
OCR Docket Number
Tulsa Public Schools
SCHOOL YEAR

2. What languages are spoken in Tulsa PS?
OFFICE OF CIVIL RIGHTS – LANGUAGE ASSISTANCE SERVICES

3. Top 10 Languages

4. Languages Spoken in Tulsa PS
75 different languages are represented in Tulsa PS
30% of students speak a language other than English in the home
92% of students with another language speak Spanish in the home

5. Why are language assistance services required?
OFFICE OF CIVIL RIGHTS – LANGUAGE ASSISTANCE SERVICES

6. Title VI of the Civil Rights Act of 1964
Title VI of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 prohibits discrimination on the basis of race, color, and national origin.
Under Title VI, “No person in the United States shall, on the ground of race, color , or national origin, be excluded from participation in, be denied the benefits of, or be otherwise subjected to discrimination under any program to which this part applies.”
National origin is interpreted by OCR to apply to anyone of Limited English Proficiency.

7. May 1970 Memorandum
Issued May 25, 1970 by J. Stanley Pottinger, Director, Office of Civil Rights
“School districts have the responsibility to adequately notify national origin-minority group parents of school activities which are called to the attention of other parents. Such notice in order to be adequate may have to be provided in a language other than English.”

8. Tulsa PS Board of Education Policy
BOE Policy 9501: Interpretation and Translation Services for District Parents and Guardians
BOE Regulation 9501-R:
Identification & Reporting
Translation Services
Interpretation Services
Essential Meetings & Functions
Review & Evaluation

9. How do I request an interpreter or translated materials?
OFFICE OF CIVIL RIGHTS – LANGUAGE ASSISTANCE SERVICES

10. Interpretation & Translation Services
Interpretation services refer to oral interpretation of a spoken language into another spoken language.
Translation services refer to written translation of a document from one language to another language.
Language Line
TransAct Parent Notifications
EduPortal
Site interpreters & translators
District language interpreters

11. Language Line Services
Phone interpretation services available in languages
Calls can be made from any phone
Must have client ID # and TPS employee ID # number to access
Quick reference guide available on the ELD website

12. TransAct Parent Notifications
School documents already translated into 20+ languages
Login at
Must have tulsaschools.org address to register for access
Quick Start Guide available on the ELD website

13. EduPortal Translated Tulsa PS- specific documents
Login at or
Must have tulsaschools.org address to register for access

14. Site Interpreters & Translators
Depending on the size of the language subgroup at your site, site staff has been identified as site interpreters and/or translators.
Interpreters & translators have been assessed for language competency and trained on interpreter role, skills, ethics, confidentiality, and legal factors.
Site staff who have not been assessed and trained may not provide language assistance services.
A list of identified site interpreters & translators is maintained by the Title III Office, Human Capital, and the site office.

15. District Language Interpreters
To schedule the following, please Palmira Saldivar or Zaida Kepford, District Language Interpreters:
Request for on-site interpreter (5 day notice)
Request for interpretation equipment
Request for interpreter/translator language competency testing
Request for document translation (10 day notice)
Request for on-site training for staff on using language assistance services

16. Who needs language assistance services?
OFFICE OF CIVIL RIGHTS – LANGUAGE ASSISTANCE SERVICES

17. Who Needs Language Assistance Services?
Other alert in PowerSchool indicates that parent has requested interpretation or translation.
Hover over symbol in PowerSchool and alert box will state interpretation or translation and language requested.
Requested through Home Language Survey. It can also be added as needed through regular communication.

18. Logging of Language Assistance Services
Logging of language assistance is a required activity under the OCR Resolution Agreement for
Scheduled or pre-arranged interactions between parents and staff or administrators,
Section 504 meetings,
IEP meetings,
Discipline hearings, and
Parent-teacher conferences.
Language assistance information must be logged by staff member requesting services which may not necessarily be the service provider.
Step by step logging procedures are available on the ELD website under Language Assistance Services.

19. Logging in PowerTeacher
Open the student’s PowerTeacher record.
From the Select Screen dropdown menu, select Language Assistance.

20. Logging in PowerSchool
Open the student’s PowerSchool record.
From the menu on the left, select Log Language Assistance.

21. Logging in PowerTeacher & PowerSchool
Select NEW to record a new event of language assistance services provided.

22. Logging in PowerTeacher & PowerSchool
Enter the following information:
Sub Type: Select reason for service (interpretation/oral or translation/written)
Description: IN ALL CAPS, enter the name of service provider AND the purpose of communication (i.e., IEP meeting, discipline hearing, parent letter, etc.)
Select submit to save record of the language assistance service. a. b.

23. How do we notify parents of available services?
OFFICE OF CIVIL RIGHTS – LANGUAGE ASSISTANCE SERVICES

24. Language Assistance Signs
Three signs are posted on a parent bulletin board in all schools:
Please Point to Your Language
Interpreters Available
Notification of Language Assistance Services

25. Language Assistance Webpage
Language Assistance Services under Parents menu at lists:
Notification of Language Assistance Services
Language Assistance Plan
Parent/Guardian Language Assistance Request Form
Language Assistance Services Complaint Form
Language Assistance Survey for Parents/Guardians

26. Language Assistance Webpage
On the footer of each school webpage, the Language Assistance link redirects parents to the Language Assistance Service information on the District’s Parent menu.
Google Translate is posted in the upper left hand corner of all school webpages.

27. How are interpreters & translators approved?
OFFICE OF CIVIL RIGHTS – LANGUAGE ASSISTANCE SERVICES

28. Language Competency Testing & Training for Interpreters & Translators
Administered by District Language Interpreters with advanced language proficiency certifications.
Testing required only one time during continuous employment.
Training required on an annual basis prior to October 1 of the current school year.

29. Language Competency Testing & Training for Interpreters & Translators
Language competency certifications from outside TPS may be submitted in lieu of testing.
If the language competency test is not passed, the employee may re-take the test once every 6 months if they choose.
Any staff or volunteers providing interpretation or translation services are required to demonstrate passing language competency scores and participate in training in order to provide language assistance services.

30. Language Competency Testing: Interpretation
Oral language competency is assessed in both English and the target language through school-based scenarios including enrollment, discipline, and health issues
Scored on a rubric of oral language competency with a scale of 1 to 4:
1 is not passing
2 is passing
3 is good
4 is advanced
Interpreters at a level 3 & 4 may provide services for Special Education, IEP, and Section 504 meetings.
The Interpreter Skills Competency Report can be viewed on the ELD webpage.

31. Language Competency Testing: Translation
Two-part assessment based on a current TPS school document:
Brief document translation
Editing of sample translated paragraph
Bilingual word-to-word dictionary provided
Scored on a rubric of written language competency with a scale of 1 to 4:
1 is not passing
2 is passing
3 is good
4 is advanced
The Translator Skills Competency Report can be viewed on the ELD webpage.

32. Who can interpret or translate?
OFFICE OF CIVIL RIGHTS – LANGUAGE ASSISTANCE SERVICES

33. TPS-approved Interpreters & Translators
Only TPS-approved interpreters and translators may provide language assistance services. This may be staff or volunteers.
Staff or volunteers who have not completed language testing and training may NOT interpret or translate.
A minor child may NEVER interpret or translate.
Adults, family members, or friends brought in by LEP parents or guardians may NOT interpret or translate.

34. Do’s & Don’ts of language assistance services
OFFICE OF CIVIL RIGHTS – LANGUAGE ASSISTANCE SERVICES

35. Do’s of Language Assistance Services
Use an approved TPS staff member to interpret.
Call Language Line for phone interpretation.
Use TransAct & EduPortal to find translated documents.
Review students’ PowerSchool/
PowerTeacher records for
Language Assistance Alert.
Offer language assistance
to parents.
Log Language Assistance
Services in PowerSchool/
PowerTeacher.

36. Don’ts of Language Assistance Services
Use a minor child to interpret.
Be afraid to stop the parent from using their child, family member or a friend to interpret.
Use the interpreter brought by
the parent.
Negotiate understanding or
meaning.
Assume that the parent is
literate in any language.

37. Who Should I Contact for More Information?
OFFICE OF CIVIL RIGHTS – LANGUAGE ASSISTANCE SERVICES

38. Contact Information
Laura Grisso Title III Administrator Palmira Saldivar District Language Interpreter Zaida Kepford
Additional resources & training information can be found under Language Assistance Services on the English Language Development (ELD) webpage at