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📞Telephone Interpretation
Schools and departments are still responsible for having their own accounts and paying for services out of their interpretation and translation budgets. However, the CLSO will supplement needs throughout the district by providing support for setting up accounts, troubleshooting, training, funding if needed and following up with vendors if there are any problems or concerns. Learn more about telephone interpretation.
🎧 Interpretation requests
Please view the Interpretation Request Guidelines before submitting a request.
Interpreters should not be contacted directly. The CLSO will coordinate and pay for interpreters assigned to school events/meetings. Submit all requests 10 days in advance.
Request interpreters to start 15 minutes before the event start time and do not count those 15 minutes when considering the duration of the event to decide how many interpreters to request.
- Consecutive Interpretation (pausing/turn-taking without equipment)
- For general school/department events lasting two (2) hours or less, one interpreter is sufficient.
- For general school/department events longer than two (2) hours, request a team of at least two interpreters.
- For ESS meetings, always request one consecutive interpreter.
- Simultaneous Interpretation (at the same time as the speaker using equipment)
- For events lasting two (2) hours or less, one interpreter is sufficient.
- For events longer than two (2) hours, request a team of at least two interpreters.
- Assign a school staff member to hand out equipment to families - ideally, the family liaison, as they are familiar with families who may need interpretation.
- Common Events (Parent-Teacher Conferences, Kindergarten Events, Continuations, etc.)
- Plan for four interpreters to cover multiple rooms or time blocks.
- For conferences, ask families to sign up for specific time slots organized by language to ensure that a team of four (4) consecutive interpreters can meet the demand efficiently and with cost effectiveness.
- Site-Based Staff Serving as DAI
- Site based staff who interpret will be paid for by their school.
📝 Translation requests
CLSO covers Spanish translations for communications such as principal letters, incidents, or any information related to student health and safety. The CLSO will coordinate translation into other languages, but the agency costs will be billed to schools/sites unless the translations are ESS-related.
🏫Training
Staff: CLSO staff will provide free training to school and district staff on using current language services resources as well as on how to request interpretation or translation services.
District-Approved Interperters: CLSO staff will provide ongoing training for interpreters and will keep files on training sessions attended, positive and negative feedback from staff and families, and types of interpretation provided. This information will be used when assignments are sent out. Interpreters who have completed training and received positive feedback will be the first to be considered for assignments.