I got word yesterday from the OCR that they have completed the agreement with LPS regarding translation and interpretation services. She said it was fairly lengthy (about 4-5 pages) and that I would be receiving a copy of the full agreement very soon. In the meantime, she did tell me a little about what was included in it and what the OCR is requiring LPS to implement. One is they need to have a set of district wide procedures informing parents/guardians of what they need to do, how they do it and who to contact to request these services. These procedures must be accessible to all parents/guardians. She also thanked me for filing a complaint because LPS was not in compliance and if complaints were not filed, the OCR would not have known. I couldn't help but chuckle and I told her how Dr. Latham always proclaims that LPS is in compliance and she even went as far as to proclaim at a recent SC meeting, that LPS was more in compliance and goes above and beyond than most other districts. What a joke!! She said the OCR will now be closely monitoring LPS to make sure they are following and implementing the requirements and she hopes me and other parents will be the eyes and ears for them and will report any incidents where LPS is failing to do so. I won't know the full details of the agreement until I receive it. But I will let you know when I do.
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Saturday, May 4, 2013
TRANSLATION - DON'T MESS WITH LORI
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I was not the only complainant. It turns out that there were actually 3 complaints filed with the OCR against LPS in the past couple of months regarding this issue. It was because of those parents (who actually filed their complaints before I filed mine) who also helped get this issue resolved.
ReplyDeleteThe POWER of the PARENT!
DeleteI received the agreement today. I found it quite interesting, but not surprising, that in the introduction it states, "The District does not admit or acknowledge any violation of Title VI, any other laws that OCR enforces, or any other Federal or State law." However, it then goes on to list the changes LPS must make regarding these services, as well as the deadlines LPS has to implement the different actions. A few actions that must be done this month are the following:
ReplyDelete1) By May 10,2013 LPS must remind school and district administrators and staff of the District's obligation to provide free language assistance services with respect to school programs and activities and will let them know who to contact if they need help obtaining oral interpretation or written translation services.
2)Also by May 10, LPS must notify all parents in the district about the availability of free language assistance services, including oral interpretation and written translation services, for LEP parents with respect to school programs and activities. LPS must also post this notice on the LPS website.
3) LPS must develop and implement procedures for access to translation and interpreter services. These procedures must include several specific features and they must be submitted to the OCR for review and approval by May 31, 2013.
4) Also by May 31, LPS must provide OCR with documentation of its compliance to 1 and 2
The agreement ends with, "The District understands that OCR will not close the monitoring of this Agreement until OCR determines that the District has fulfilled the terms of this Agreement and is in compliance with the regulations implementing Title VI at 34 C.F.R. Section 100.3(b)(2)." It also goes on to state that the "OCR may initiate administrative enforcement or judicial proceedings to enforce the specific terms and obligations of this Agreement."
I believe the full agreement can be requested by anyone who submits a public records request for it.