HR0088LRB101 08873 ALS 53963 r

1
HOUSE RESOLUTION

 
2    WHEREAS, The State of Illinois has a significant population
3for whom English is their second language; and
 
4    WHEREAS, A proportion of their children have been or will
5be identified as eligible for special education services; and
 
6    WHEREAS, Parents of children with disabilities have a right
7and an obligation to actively participate in Individualized
8Education Program (IEP) meetings; and
 
9    WHEREAS, Parents who are not proficient in English are
10effectively foreclosed from meaningful participation at IEP
11meetings due to their inability to fully comprehend vital
12information provided to them only in English; and
 
13    WHEREAS, The State of Illinois has established
14qualifications and standards of competency for interpreters
15for the deaf and hard of hearing; and
 
16    WHEREAS, The State of Illinois has not established
17comparable qualifications and standards of competency for
18language interpreters for, in this instance, parents with
19limited English proficiency; and
 

 

 

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1    WHEREAS, Language interpretation services for parents of
2limited English proficiency at IEP meetings vary widely
3throughout the State; when services are provided by individuals
4with unknown levels of proficiency in two languages, without
5interpreter training, without knowledge of special education
6terminology, or without an understanding of ethical and
7cultural considerations, the opportunity to arrange the best
8possible support for a child with special needs will be
9limited; and
 
10    WHEREAS, It is incumbent upon the State of Illinois that
11all parents, including parents of children with disabilities,
12and, in this instance, parents of limited English proficiency
13with children receiving special education services, be
14afforded the same opportunities to comprehend and effectively
15participate in IEP meetings on the same footing as similar
16parents who are English speaking and parents who are deaf or
17hard of hearing who are provided required, competent
18interpretation services for the deaf and hard of hearing;
19therefore, be it
 
20    RESOLVED, BY THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES OF THE ONE
21HUNDRED FIRST GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF ILLINOIS, that
22we urge the General Assembly to enact legislation to amend The
23School Code of Illinois, requiring the Illinois State Board of
24Education to establish criteria, standards, and competencies

 

 

HR0088- 3 -LRB101 08873 ALS 53963 r

1required of bilingual language interpreters for parents of
2limited English proficiency who are participating in IEP
3meetings.