MDE Low Incidence Outreach - Educational Interpreters

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Educational Interpreter Project

Introduction

The Michigan Department of Education (MDE), Office of Special Education and Early Intervention Services, and the Department of Labor and Economic Growth, Division on Deaf and Hard of Hearing, developed a referent group (Group) to address the status of educational interpreters for deaf and hard of hearing (D/HH) students in Michigan. The charge of the Group was to develop a proposal that will define qualifications of interpreters and address developing an adequate supply of qualified interpreters for D/HH students in educational settings.

The draft Proposal for Ensuring an Adequate Supply of Qualified Educational Interpreters includes a clarification of the current challenges, a framework of meaningful performance standards for educational interpreters, and a strategic plan for change. Sixteen strategic directives are proposed including adoption of the Educational Interpreter Performance Assessment (EIPA).

As work continues on the strategic directives outlined in the draft Proposal for Ensuring an Adequate Supply of Qualified Educational Interpreters additional information will be added. Please check this site regularly for additional information.

A memo announcing this Proposal was sent to the special education field in Michigan.
(Download the memo - [Word | PDF])
Proposal for Ensuring an Adequate Supply of Qualified Educational Interpreters
(Download the proposal - [Word | PDF])
Strategic Directive 5 (draft Proposal for Ensuring an Adequate Supply of Qualified Educational Interpreters) recommended the adoption of the Educational Interpreting Performance Assessment (EIPA). Plans are underway to offer the EIPA to educational interpreters currently working in the K-12 system in Michigan. Please check this website in mid-August for details on opportunities to take the assessment. For more information about the EIPA go to http://www.classroominterpreting.org/home.asp OR http://spot.colorado.edu/~schick/EIPAWT_about.html.

For more information on MDE Low Incidence Outreach contact:

MDE Low Incidence Outreach
1505 W. Court Street, Suite 227
Flint, MI 48503-5002
(810) 760-2206 (main number)
1-888-760-2206 (toll-free)
(810) 760-6949 (fax)
msdb-outreach@michigan.gov

This information on this Web site was produced and distributed through an IDEA Mandated Activities Project for Michigan Department of Education Low Incidence Outreach awarded by the Michigan Department of Education. The opinions expressed herein do not necessarily reflect the position or policy of the Michigan Department of Education, the Michigan State Board of Education, or the U.S. Department of Education, and no endorsement is inferred. The information on this site is in the public domain and may be copied for further distribution when proper credit is given. For further information or inquiries about this project, contact the Michigan Department of Education, Office of Special Education and Early Intervention Services, P.O. Box 30008, Lansing, Michigan 48909.