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<p class=MsoNormal><font size=2 face=Arial><span style='font-size:10.0pt;
font-family:Arial'>TO: All District and ESD
Special Education Directors<o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
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<p class=MsoNormal><font size=2 face=Arial><span style='font-size:10.0pt;
font-family:Arial'> <o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
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<p class=MsoNormal><font size=2 face=Arial><span style='font-size:10.0pt;
font-family:Arial'>The message below is being forwarded to you on behalf of:<o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
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<p class=MsoNormal><font size=2 face=Arial><span style='font-size:10.0pt;
font-family:Arial'> <o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
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<p class=MsoNormal><font size=2 face=Arial><span style='font-size:10.0pt;
font-family:Arial'>Nancy Latini, PhD<o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
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<p class=MsoNormal><font size=2 face=Arial><span style='font-size:10.0pt;
font-family:Arial'>Assistant Superintendent<o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
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<p class=MsoNormal><font size=2 face=Arial><span style='font-size:10.0pt;
font-family:Arial'>Student Learning & Partnerships<o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
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<p class=MsoNormal><font size=2 face=Arial><span style='font-size:10.0pt;
font-family:Arial'>______________________________________________ <o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
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<p class=MsoNormal><font size=3 face=Arial><span style='font-size:12.0pt;
font-family:Arial'>June 15, 2009 </span></font><font size=2 face=Arial><span
style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:Arial'><o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
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font-family:Arial'> </span></font><font size=2 face=Arial><span
style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:Arial'><o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
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<p class=MsoNormal><font size=3 face=Arial><span style='font-size:12.0pt;
font-family:Arial'>RE: Provision of Interpreters for Parents to
Participate Fully in Educational Meetings</span></font><font size=2 face=Arial><span
style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:Arial'><o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
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<p class=MsoNormal><font size=3 face=Arial><span style='font-size:12.0pt;
font-family:Arial'> </span></font><font size=2 face=Arial><span
style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:Arial'><o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
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<p class=MsoNormal><font size=3 face=Arial><span style='font-size:12.0pt;
font-family:Arial'>At a meeting of the State Advisory Council on Special
Education (SACSE), and through other advocacy organizations, our office has been
informed that some districts are engaging interpreters for IEP meetings who may
not themselves completely understand the proceedings of the meeting for which
they are interpreting. The concern primarily involves parents whose native
language is other than English. Specifically, if the interpreter cannot
properly communicate the proceedings of the meeting to the parent, it is
difficult for the parent to fully understand the proceedings of the IEP or
related meeting. </span></font><font size=2 face=Arial><span style='font-size:
10.0pt;font-family:Arial'><o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
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<p class=MsoNormal><font size=3 face=Arial><span style='font-size:12.0pt;
font-family:Arial'>While we currently have no direct evidence of this occurring
through our dispute resolution system, I am writing to simply call attention to
federal and state regulations pertaining to district responsibilities relative
to interpreters and IEP meetings. School districts must ensure that parents
are actively and meaningfully involved in the IEP and educational processes of
their children. For parents who are deaf or whose native language may be
other than English, the district provision of able interpreters is a critical
component of that goal.</span></font><font size=2 face=Arial><span
style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:Arial'><o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
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<p class=MsoNormal><font size=3 face=Arial><span style='font-size:12.0pt;
font-family:Arial'>Thank you in advance for reviewing the federal and state
requirements below and evaluating how your district is doing in complying with
these requirements. If you have any questions, please feel free to contact Rae
Ann Ray at (503)-947-5722<font color=blue><span style='color:blue'>.</span></font></span></font><font
size=2 face=Arial><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:Arial'><o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
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<p class=MsoNormal><b><font size=3 face=Arial><span style='font-size:12.0pt;
font-family:Arial;font-weight:bold'>IDEA 34 CFR </span></font></b><font
face=Arial><span style='font-family:Arial'><a
href="/explore/view/p/%2Croot%2Cregs%2C300%2CD%2C300%252E322%2Ce%2C"><b><span
style='font-weight:bold'>Sec. 300.322(e)</span></b></a><b><span
style='font-weight:bold'> </span></b></span></font><font size=2 face=Arial><span
style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:Arial'><o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
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<p class=MsoNormal><font size=3 face=Arial><span style='font-size:12.0pt;
font-family:Arial'>Use of interpreters or other action, as appropriate: The
public agency must take whatever action is necessary to ensure that the parent
understands the proceedings of the IEP Team meeting, including arranging for an
interpreter for parents with deafness or whose native language is other than
English. </span></font><font size=2 face=Arial><span style='font-size:10.0pt;
font-family:Arial'><o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
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<p class=MsoNormal><st1:State w:st="on"><st1:place w:st="on"><b><font size=3
face=Arial><span style='font-size:12.0pt;font-family:Arial;font-weight:bold'>Oregon</span></font></b></st1:place></st1:State><b><font
face=Arial><span style='font-family:Arial;font-weight:bold'> Administrative
Rules 581-015-2190 (3) and (4)</span></font></b><font size=2 face=Arial><span
style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:Arial'><o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
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<p class=MsoNormal><b><font size=3 face=Arial><span style='font-size:12.0pt;
font-family:Arial;font-weight:bold'>Parent Participation - General </span></font></b><font
size=2 face=Arial><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:Arial'><o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
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<p class=MsoNormal><font size=3 face=Arial><span style='font-size:12.0pt;
font-family:Arial'>(3) The school district must take whatever action is
necessary to ensure that the parent understands the proceedings at a meeting,
including arranging for an interpreter for parents who are deaf or whose native
language is other than English.</span></font><font size=2 face=Arial><span
style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:Arial'><o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
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<p class=MsoNormal><font size=3 face=Arial><span style='font-size:12.0pt;
font-family:Arial'>(4) A meeting does not include informal or unscheduled
conversations involving school district personnel and conversations on issues
such as teaching methodology, lesson plans, or coordination of service
provision if those issues are not addressed in the child's IEP. A meeting also
does not include preparatory activities that public agency personnel engage in
to develop a proposal or response to a parent proposal that will be discussed
at a later meeting.</span></font><font size=2 face=Arial><span
style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:Arial'><o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
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<p class=MsoNormal><font size=3 face=Arial><span style='font-size:12.0pt;
font-family:Arial'> </span></font><font size=2 face=Arial><span
style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:Arial'><o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
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<p class=MsoNormal><font size=3 face=Arial><span style='font-size:12.0pt;
font-family:Arial'>If you have any difficulty viewing this, please contact
Laura Allran at <a href="mailto:heidi.schulze@state.or.us">laura.allran@state.or.us</a>
or 503-947-5674.</span></font><font size=2 face=Arial><span style='font-size:
10.0pt;font-family:Arial'><o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
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available to the public under <st1:State w:st="on"><st1:place w:st="on">Oregon</st1:place></st1:State>
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<p class=MsoNormal><font size=3 face=Arial><span style='font-size:12.0pt;
font-family:Arial'>===========End of Message============</span></font><font
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