7211 - Provision of Interpreter Services to Parents Who are Hearing Impaired

Policy: Provision of Interpreter Services to Parents Who are Hearing Impaired	Policy Number: 7211
Date of Original Policy: 07/10/2002	Date Revision Adopted: 01/19/2022
Reviewed by Policy Committee: 10/17/2018	Date of Next Review: 01/20/2024
Replacement of Policy Number:

The Board of Education assures parents or legal guardians who are hearing impaired the right to meaningful access to school initiated meetings or activities pertaining to the academic and/or disciplinary aspects of their children’s education. School initiated meetings or activities are defined to include, but are not limited to, parent-teacher conferences, child study or building-level team meetings, planning meetings with school counselors regarding educational progress and career planning, suspension hearings or any conferences with school officials relating to disciplinary actions. The term “hearing impaired” shall include any hearing impairment, whether permanent or fluctuating, which prevents meaningful participation in School District meetings or activities.
 
Parents or legal guardians shall be notified of the availability of interpreter services to be provided at no charge, provided that a written request is made to the School District within fourteen (14) days of the scheduled event. Exceptions to the time frame request may be made for unanticipated circumstances as determined by the principal/designee. The District shall also notify appropriate school personnel as to the terms and implementation of this policy.
 
If interpreter services are requested, the District shall appoint an interpreter for the hearing impaired to interpret during the meeting or activity. The District will arrange for interpreters through a District-created list or through an interpreter referral service. The District shall also develop interagency agreements, as appropriate, to ensure that sign language interpreters are provided for eligible parents or legal guardian when District students attend out-of-District schools or programs.
 
In the event that an interpreter is unavailable, the School District shall make other reasonable accommodations which are satisfactory to the parents or legal guardian. Examples of what constitutes reasonable accommodations in the event an interpreter cannot be located may include, but are not limited to, the use of:
 
a.    Written communications, transcripts, notetakers, etc; and
b.    Technology, such as: a decoder or telecommunication device for the deaf, assistive listening devices, and closed or open captioning.
 
Education Law Section 3230
New York Code of Rules and Regulations (NYCRR) Section 100.2(aa)