Bilingual Support

Summit School District’s Multilingual-Multicultural Support services are dedicated to fostering inclusive communication and access for all multilingual families. Through our Family & Community Liaisons and Language Services team, we connect culturally and linguistically diverse families with essential academic and non-academic resources, ensuring everyone feels empowered to engage fully in the educational journey. Our Language Services team provides interpretation for meetings, translation of critical documents, and timely communication across multiple channels, prioritizing equity and compliance. We are committed to bridging language gaps and supporting meaningful participation for every student and family in our community.

Safe Access to Public Education

Dear parents and families,

Thank you for choosing to be a part of the Summit School District (SSD) community. We know that some of our families - particularly those who are immigrants and refugees - may have questions about the support available to them from our district. We hope the information included in this message will be helpful.

Nothing is more important to us than keeping your children safe in our schools and classrooms. It is important to know that the U.S. Supreme Court’s 1982 Plyler v. Doe decision affirmed that schools cannot deny enrollment to students on the basis of their immigration status, which ensures that all students have access to a free public education.

Additionally, both federal and state laws prohibit discrimination and harassment of students on the basis of protected classes, which includes national origin, race, and color. You can find these prohibitions in the federal Title IV and Title VI statutes and in Colorado’s Anti-Discrimination Act, § 24-34-601, C.R.S. There is also long-standing federal guidance (see 2016 guidance and 2021 guidance), that schools are protected spaces where federal immigration authorities should not conduct immigration activities.  

At Summit School District (SSD), we stand firmly against discrimination in all its forms. Guided by our commitment to equity and belonging, we prioritize creating inclusive environments where every student, family, and staff member feels valued and supported. Our Board policies are in place so that no individual is treated unfairly based on race, ethnicity, national origin, language, ability, or any other protected characteristic. Additionally, SSD has specific policies to address interactions with Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE), ensuring our schools remain safe spaces for learning, free from fear or disruption. These policies align with our mission to honor and celebrate cultural and personal identities while promoting academic and personal success for all. 

Sincerely,
Superintendent Dr. Tony Byrd

Family & Community Liaisons

SSD Family and Community Liaisons collaborate with culturally and linguistically diverse families to access academic and non-academic support services and to pinpoint opportunities to improve access and achievement for all students and their families.

Language Services

The Language Services Department serves SSD multilingual-multicultural communities. We help comply with legal requirements and bridge the communication gap between SSD and non-English-speaking families. 

Our drivers: Equity through language access & Culturally and Linguistically Diverse Education

Most common Languages for SY 2024: Spanish, French, Russian, Ukrainian, Czech

Interpretation (verbal)

We provide interpretation services for large and small meetings.

We provide an interpretation phone line for interactions with administration and short meetings in ALL spoken languages at SSD. If you are an SSD Staff member, please contact us with your LanguageLink-related questions.

We provide specialized support for Special Education meetings: Request a meeting with SPED Interpreter/Liaison.

Translation (written)

We provide translation for internal and public communications from the BOE, Superintendent, and SSD departments and partners.

We make critical information and documentation about school services and activities available in the languages supported by SSD.

We offer dedicated support for Special Education, IEPs, and 504s meetings and documentation in your preferred language. 

Multilingual Communications

We help provide multilingual, timely communications during regular operations and emergencies through different channels and platforms.

Language Services are free to parents and can be requested by  SSD employees. Through Language Services, SSD team members can: 

• Submit a request for a human interpreter (verbal-in-person) for a large or small meeting.
• Connect over the phone to a human interpreter for all languages spoken at SSD 
• Submit a written document for translation.
• IEP or 504 meeting? Request a Special Education Interpreter
• Contact our District Family Liaison
• Request an American Sign Language interpreter. 
• Request a written Translation. 

 Before you make a request, be sure to familiarize yourself with the SSD Translation and Interpretation Guidance.

What documents can be submitted to Language Services?

The Language Services office has limited resources and cannot cover the cost of every request received through our intake system. However, our department covers the following requests at no cost in the five (?) most common languages, both at the District and school levels.

Documents containing “District-level essential information” include, but are not limited to: 

• The District Parent/Student Policy Handbook.
• Information about matters arising under IDEA or Section 504 (e.g., IEP and 504 meetings.)
• Announcements that contain information about District programs and activities for which notice is needed to participate or for which parent permission is required (e.g., Gifted and Talented courses, Course Catalog, Pathways)
• Documents related to the ELA Program (e.g., screening procedures, HLQ, and Program and opt-out options.)
• Information related to public health and safety (e.g., vaccination requirements, emergency protocols.)
• Any other written information that would be provided to non-LEP Parents describing the rights and responsibilities of parents or students and the benefits and services available to parents and students (e.g., information about the disciplinary process, information regarding free- and reduced-price lunch, access to student records, graduation requirements, post-secondary readiness, and financial aid information.)

Documents containing “school-specific essential information” include, but are not limited to:

• Standards-Based Progress Reports and other academic progress reports.
• Announcements that contain information about school programs and activities for which notice is needed to participate or for which parent permission is required (e.g., advanced and Gifted and Talented opportunities and prerequisites, remedial or tutoring options, field trips, school performances)
• Disciplinary notices.

Translation of  IEP / 504 meeting documents

Information about matters that fall under the IDEA or Section 504 (e.g., IEP and 504 meetings) (except that translation of IEPs and 504 Plans is governed by Chapter 7) is essential district-level information.

To be compliant with the Consent Decree, upon request by a LEP Parent, the District shall translate requested portions of an English Language Learner’s IEP or 504 Plan (including the entire IEP or 504 Plan, if requested) into the parent’s native language (even if outside the 5 most common languages). Our office will provide the requested translation within a reasonable period, but no later than twenty (20) school days following the IEP or 504 meeting. Please submit IEP translation requests as soon as possible to meet this DOJ requirement.

IMPORTANT: The Language Services office WILL NOT send IEP translations to parents over any break. Once the translation has been delivered via email, each requester will be responsible for sending them to the parents. Please plan accordingly before going on break.

Interpretation

Interpretation services are free to families and can be requested by  SSD staff.

In-Person Interpretations

SSD provides  in-person interpreters (verbal translation) for meetings, events, community gatherings, and different activities

If you need an interpreter, please fill out the Interpreter Request Form. 

In-person interpreters can be requested for: 

• Large meetings, public events, conferences, and family connection days
• Disciplinary, restorative, and attendance meetings.
• Special education meetings and services: IEPs, Child Find, Language Tests, 

Please provide at least three business days in advance so we can source an interpreter for your meeting. Once we have identified and assigned an interpreter, he/she will send you direct confirmation and finalize any details about your event.

SPED Interpreter / Liaison

If you are organizing an IEP, please allow ample time for your request to be processed and for an interpreter to be assigned.

IEP meetings are usually conducted with live interpreters, and we have limited availability of such experts in our area. Therefore, we would appreciate receiving your requests as early as possible in the school year so that we can secure an interpreter for you early on.

For any questions concerning your student’s IEP, therapists, counselors, and other available SPED resources, you can contact your SSD Interpreter/Liaison. This specialist can also assist in communicating with the different offices,

Cancellations & Rescheduling: We understand many factors and situations with families that could require last-minute cancellations and rescheduling. If you find yourself in that situation, please:

Notify Language Services 

Reschedule a new meeting in the system

In case of last-minute meetings or urgent communication needs, staff members can access LanguageLink.

High Season: There are some seasons in our school calendar where we get requests from ALL schools. Please remember those dates when requesting our services, as we may have already booked our total capacity for some concurrent events. In other words, ensure you are not booking IEPs or other events on those dates.

Examples of concurrent events: Conferences, Connection days, etc. 

Phone interpretations

How to Access LanguageLink 

About Personal Codes

There are many advantages to requesting a phone interpreter for small interpretation settings. It is fast, simple and convenient. It is also effective and saves the district money. If any participant cannot attend and the meeting is rescheduled or canceled, the district does not pay for the service since it was not used. Phone interpretation is not meant for large groups, simultaneous interpretation formats, or large conference settings. It can be used for one-on-one meetings, last-minute interpretation needs, or to set up a future meeting that requires in-person interpretation.

Preparation steps

• Request account information to use this service at interpretations@summitK12.org. This information is unique to each school or department.
• Select a distraction-free/private environment, such as an office or classroom.
• Have a telephone with speakerphone or conferencing capabilities.
• Make sure all parties are present before dialing in.
• Dial the number previously provided for your school or department.
• Do not keep an interpreter on hold. It usually takes less than 3 minutes to connect to an interpreter. If you cannot connect with an interpreter for a particular language, please contact our office for further assistance. 

Once the meeting begins (review with participants)

• Your meeting starts once you are connected to the interpreter
• Address the non-English speaker(s) directly, not the interpreter
• Speak clearly and in short sentences
• Allow time for the interpreter to speak after each complete thought
• Encourage your guest(s) to ask questions
• If multiple people are in the room, make sure to talk one at a time
• Avoid side conversations
• Speak freely - all interpreters are sworn to confidentiality