All parents have the right to information about their child’s education in a language they understand. When your child enrolls in school, the school will ask you about the language you would like to use when communicating with the school. This helps your school identify your language needs so they can provide an interpreter or translated documents, free of charge.
What you can expect from us
The school will communicate with you—in your language—about your child’s education. This often includes translated documents and a language interpreter for meetings and conversations. You have the right to these services even if you speak some English and even if your child can speak or read in English.
The school will communicate with you in your language about important information and opportunities for your child. This includes information about:
- Registration and enrollment in school
- Grades, academic standards, and graduation
- School rules and student discipline
- Attendance, absences, and withdrawal
- Parent permission for activities or programs
- Health, safety, and emergencies
- School closures
- Opportunities to access programs or services—including highly capable, advanced placement, and English language learner programs
Meetings and conversations with your school
When you talk with teachers or school employees, the school will offer an interpreter if you need one. This includes parent–teacher conferences, meetings about special education, or any other conversations about your child’s education.
How to request services
Language services can be accessed in a variety of ways:
- By calling, emailing or sending a direct message in ParentSquare to the school, teacher, school principal or District Office
- Contact our cultural liaison (Spanish) at 360-306-2886.
- Submit request form online
Additional information
Meetings and conversations with teachers and school staff
When you talk with teachers or school employees, the school will offer an interpreter if you need one. This includes parent–teacher conferences, meetings about special education, or any other conversations about your child’s education.
The school will use only competent interpreters who are fluent in English and in your language. The school will make sure interpreters understand any terms or concepts that will be used during the meeting. The school will not use students or children as interpreters.
The interpreter should be neutral and should communicate everything said during the conversation. They should not omit or add to what anyone says. The school will make sure interpreters understand their role and the need to keep information confidential. The interpreter might be in person or on the phone and might be district staff or an outside contractor.
The school will offer an interpreter for any meetings or conversations at school or about your child’s education. You can also ask the school if you need one.
ParentSquare
ParentSquare allows for two-way communication between teachers and families in multiple languages. Parents preferred language is synced in through Skyward to ParentSquare. Parents can adjust their preferred language in ParentSquare under their account settings. Parents will receive an email and/or text message containing messages from their child’s school and teacher(s). Parents may also use ParentSquare to send a message directly to their child’s teacher(s).
If you have any questions or would like to request an interpreter or translation, your school can help. You can ask anyone in the school for help, or you contact our Elvira Trautman, cultural liaison, at 360-306-2886.
Under state and federal civil rights laws, you have the right to access information in your language. Ask the main office for a copy of the district’s language access policy and procedure.
Concerns and complaints
If you have concerns about the school’s interpretation or translation services—or if you were not offered an interpreter or translation you needed—you have several options.
- Talk with your principal or a school employee you are comfortable with. A discussion with your school principal is often the best first step to address your concerns. Explain what happened, and let the principal know what they can do to help resolve the problem.
- Talk with your school district. You can also contact the school district to share your concerns. You can call the civil rights coordinator or the superintendent at the district office.
- Ask for help resolving your concerns. You can also contact these agencies for more information about your rights or for assistance to resolve your concerns.
Equity and Civil Rights Office
Office of Superintendent of Public Instruction
360-725-6162
Office of the Education Ombuds
1-866-297-2597
oeo.wa.gov
4. You can file a complaint. To file a complaint, explain what happened in writing—in any language—and send it to the district by mail, email, or hand delivery. Make sure to keep a copy for your records.
Within 30 calendar days, the district will investigate your complaint and respond to you in writing. More information about your complaint options are online here: www.k12.wa.us/Equity/Complaints.aspx.
Please know that the school may not retaliate against you or your child for sharing concerns or filing a complaint.
Language Access Plan
Meridian School District Language Access Plan is a guidance tool for staff members to use to strengthen family partnerships and improve engagement in alignment with the values in our strategic plan.
Schools communicate with families in a language they can understand. This includes notifying families whose primary language of communication is not English or who have limited proficiency in English – in a language they can understand – about school and district programs, services and activities.
The district ensures timely, meaningful communication of essential information, including language assistance programs, safety plans, special education and related services, IEP meetings, grievance procedures, notices of nondiscrimination, student discipline policies and procedures, registration and enrollment, report cards, requests for permission for student participation in district or school activities, parent–teacher conferences, parent handbooks, gifted and talented programs and any other school and program choice options.
Limited English Proficiency (LEP)
Individuals who are identified as limited English proficient (LEP) are unable to communicate effectively in English either verbally, in writing, or both, because their primary language is not English and they have not developed fluency in the English language. A person with LEP may have difficulty in one or more of four domains of language: speaking, listening, reading, and writing.
LEP Parent
Refers to the parent(s) or guardian(s) of a student enrolled in the district who have limited English proficiency, even if the student is proficient in English.
Primary Language
The primary language spoken by a student’s family, or the predominant language spoken in the student’s home. Families may have more than one primary language and/or dialect.
Language Services
A broad spectrum of services used or required to facilitate communication and understanding between speakers of different languages, and typically includes interpretation and translation services.
Interpretation
The act of communication between a speaker of English and a speaker of another language wherein the words of one person are communicated to others orally in a different language. This also includes interpretation through Sign Language.
Translation
Means the written communication between a speaker of English and a speaker of another language wherein the written words of one person are communicated to others in writing in a different language.
Parent/Guardian Identification
The process by which Meridian School District identifies families through the Home Language Survey that is a part of the annual registration process. The district monitors student registrations.
Language services can be accessed in a variety of ways:
- By calling, emailing or sending direct message in ParentSquare to the school, teacher, school principal or District Office
- Contact our cultural liaison (Spanish) at 360-306-2886.
- Submit request form online
The following describes how staff members access the language services provided by Meridian School District. Sign Language Interpretation
Sign language interpreters are available to interpret at school events and meetings. The district has a contact with HandDancer Interpreter Services. If you are in need of a sign language interpreter please use the process for hiring interpreters instructions.
Interpretation
The district maintains an updated list of competent and trained interpreters. To schedule an interpreter please use the most updated list of approved interpreters found on the Staff Hub.
Translation
The district contracts with outside companies for document translation. To have a document translated please follow the directions in the Staff Hub.
School leaders will work with teachers and support staff to ensure a clear internal system to access interpreters and translators.
Interpreters
- Required for in-person or virtual conferences and family events.
- Schedule interpreters at least two business days prior to events. Brief the interpreter on the meeting and its details.
- Confirm the language the family speaks.
- Confirm the parent’s attendance through the interpreter.
- Schedule extra time for the meeting to allow interpretation to occur.
Translations
- Email translation requests for documents intended to be shared with parents/guardians with advance notice of at least 2-3 business days to lgilchrist@meridian.wednet.edu. Send the original, modifiable documents in an electronic format, Microsoft Word is recommended (no PDFs) and indicate the date by which the translation is needed. A single request may include multiple languages of a document. Please note: For lesson or curriculum document translation, teachers should use Google Read and Write.
ParentSquare
ParentSquare allows for two-way communication between teachers and families in multiple languages. Parents preferred language is synced in through Skyward to ParentSquare. Parents can adjust their preferred language in ParentSquare under their account settings. Parents will receive an email and/or text message containing messages from their child’s school and teacher(s). Parents may also use ParentSquare to send a message directly to their child’s teacher(s).
- Essential, non-student specific district documents
- Website notices and translated webpages
- Family handbook
- Important document notice in multiple languages
All notifications provided to LEP families will include both the phone number and email for the department of multilingual services as well as the name and number of the district civil rights compliance officer. District departments will create a key list of essential, non-student specific district documents that will be translated into languages other than English each year.
| Audience | Mode | Date |
| Guest interpreters | Live or virtual | July (on demand upon hire) |
| All staff | SafeSchools | August |
| Office staff | Live or virtual | August |
| Leadership team | Live or virtual | August |
The district will evaluate the Language Access Plan and its components on a regular basis. A self-evaluation will be conducted annually. Feedback will be sought through a variety of ways including:
- Family surveys and focus groups
- Interpreter and translator surveys
- Staff surveys
The district will maintain and update a database of interpreter and translation services requested, including the primary language(s) and names of the student and the student’s parents; the school building involved; the source of any interpreter used (e.g., guest staff interpreters, contract interpreters, telephone interpreter lines); the reason for or purpose of the request; the date of the request; and the name of the interpreter.
To ensure that interpreters and translators have the knowledge in both languages of any specialized terms or concepts, the district works in partnership with both Language Link and Language Line to ensure interpreters have been trained in the roles of an interpreter, translator. In the hiring process, interpreters are screened and vetted by Human Resources and receive training on best practices.
After the completion of translation or interpretive service, families will be provided with the option to complete a feedback survey. The district will gather a representative group of LEP families annually to seek input around appropriate feedback questions with the lens of continual improvement of translation and interpretation.
The process to review current district interpreters and translators will include an annual summary of performance to include the number of times services were rendered as well as feedback from any survey results from LEP families who have accessed services.
Building level roles and responsibilities in supporting Limited English Proficiency (LEP) families include:
Principal/Assistant Principal
- Partnering with families and community to support student learning
- Ensuring access to information and materials in the families’ preferred language
- Foster a multicultural and multilingual school environment
Teacher
- Collaborating with families to meet student need
Cultural Liaison
- Collaborating with families to meet student need
- Providing resources and supports
Counselor
- Collaborating with families to meet student need
- Providing resources and supports
Who to Contact
For translation and interpretation services intended for district-wide distribution and program-related communications to students and families, contact Director of Public Relations Lisa Gilchrist 360-318-2159 or email at lgilchrist@meridian.wednet.edu.
If you have have a complaint or concern, please contact our Civil Rights coordinator Assistant Superintendent Kurt Harvill at 360-318-2153 or kharvill@meridian.wednet.edu.
Contact
Elvira Trautman (Spanish)
Cultural Liaison
Migrant Student Advocate
360-306-2886
Lisa Gilchrist
Director of Public Relations
360-318-2159