HR0088 101ST GENERAL ASSEMBLY

HR0088 LRB101 08873 ALS 53963 r

HOUSE RESOLUTION

WHEREAS, The State of Illinois has a significant population for whom English is their second language; and

WHEREAS, A proportion of their children have been or will be identified as eligible for special education services; and

WHEREAS, Parents of children with disabilities have a right and an obligation to actively participate in Individualized Education Program (IEP) meetings; and

WHEREAS, Parents who are not proficient in English are effectively foreclosed from meaningful participation at IEP meetings due to their inability to fully comprehend vital information provided to them only in English; and

WHEREAS, The State of Illinois has established qualifications and standards of competency for interpreters for the deaf and hard of hearing; and

WHEREAS, The State of Illinois has not established comparable qualifications and standards of competency for language interpreters for, in this instance, parents with limited English proficiency; and

WHEREAS, Language interpretation services for parents of limited English proficiency at IEP meetings vary widely throughout the State; when services are provided by individuals with unknown levels of proficiency in two languages, without interpreter training, without knowledge of special education terminology, or without an understanding of ethical and cultural considerations, the opportunity to arrange the best possible support for a child with special needs will be limited; and

WHEREAS, It is incumbent upon the State of Illinois that all parents, including parents of children with disabilities, and, in this instance, parents of limited English proficiency with children receiving special education services, be afforded the same opportunities to comprehend and effectively participate in IEP meetings on the same footing as similar parents who are English speaking and parents who are deaf or hard of hearing who are provided required, competent interpretation services for the deaf and hard of hearing; therefore, be it

RESOLVED, BY THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES OF THE ONE HUNDRED FIRST GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF ILLINOIS, that we urge the General Assembly to enact legislation to amend The School Code of Illinois, requiring the Illinois State Board of Education to establish criteria, standards, and competencies required of bilingual language interpreters for parents of limited English proficiency who are participating in IEP meetings.