As the new school year approaches, it's the perfect time to reflect on the importance of language access in education.
To show you how our solutions work, we’ve curated stories from the past 12 months showcasing how innovative schools are utilizing LanguageLine to enhance the educational experience for English Language Learners (ELLs) and their families, creating more inclusive learning environments.
California: Embracing Linguistic Diversity, Oakland Charter School Implements On-Demand Interpreting
AIMS K-12, a public charter school system in Oakland, California, is making significant strides in embracing linguistic diversity by implementing LanguageLine’s on-demand interpretation services. Serving a diverse student body, with 75% of its elementary students being English Language Learners (ELLs), AIMS ensures that language barriers do not impede educational opportunities. Through their partnership with LanguageLine, the school provides professional interpretation services available 24/7 in 240 languages, empowering students and their families to actively engage in the school community. The use of Chromebooks with translated materials further supports students in navigating academic content and participating in class discussions.
This holistic approach to education at AIMS includes a dedicated English Language Development Department and a STEAM (Science, Technology, Engineering, Arts, and Math) curriculum that fosters creativity and critical thinking. The school's commitment to equity is evident in its high student attendance rate and impressive college acceptance record, with graduates being admitted to prestigious institutions such as Yale, Stanford, and MIT. By partnering with LanguageLine, AIMS not only enhances communication for its multilingual community but also sets a model for other schools nationwide. This collaboration highlights the importance of clear communication and the value of multilingualism in empowering students to thrive academically and beyond.
Maryland: Baltimore Schools' Mobile Center Adds On-Demand Interpreting
Baltimore County Public Schools has introduced a Mobile Welcome Center to better serve non-English-speaking families, bringing enrollment and support services directly to their communities with the help of LanguageLine. This initiative eliminates the need for families to travel long distances to the only in-person center previously available. The Mobile Welcome Center, resembling a bright blue school bus, visits different schools every Tuesday, where students take English proficiency tests and parents access essential resources like healthcare and proof-of-residency documents. Equipped with the LanguageLine app on wireless devices, staff can provide on-demand interpretation in over 240 languages, ensuring clear communication without appointments. This partnership with LanguageLine has significantly improved the school's ability to serve a diverse population and meet the needs of families who speak languages other than English at home.
The impact of the Mobile Welcome Center has been profound, particularly in a county where 15% of residents speak a language other than English. By offering this mobile service, Baltimore County has made it easier for families to enroll their children in school and access necessary support services.
Virginia: School System Uses DirectResponse to Greet Non-English Callers in Their Preferred Language
Alexandria City Public Schools (ACPS) in Virginia has prioritized racial equity and inclusion by implementing LanguageLine DirectResponse to enhance communication with its diverse student body. Serving over 16,000 students from 119 countries speaking 121 languages, ACPS uses DirectResponse to instantly connect non-English-speaking callers with professional interpreters in their preferred languages, such as Spanish, Amharic, Arabic, Farsi, and Pashto. This service ensures that the first voice non-English-speaking families hear is that of an interpreter, who stays on the line for the entire call, facilitating clear and effective communication. This initiative complements ACPS's ongoing use of traditional LanguageLine phone interpreting services, which handled over 18,000 interpretation calls in more than 100 languages last year.
DirectResponse significantly benefits ACPS by simplifying the call experience for limited English speakers, reducing frustration with clear in-language instructions, and saving time for both callers and staff. This tool routes calls seamlessly to the appropriate department, enhancing efficiency and setting an inclusive tone from the start. This solution embodies the inclusivity of ACPS by enabling communication with all families, regardless of the language they speak. This commitment to accessibility ensures that every family can participate fully in their children’s education, fostering a truly inclusive school environment.
Florida: Interpretation, Translation Boost English Language Learners in Diverse District
Alachua County Public Schools (ACPS) in Florida has partnered with LanguageLine to enhance communication between educators, English Language Learners (ELL), and their families. This initiative, driven by local immigrant advocates and the Gainesville Immigrant Neighbor Inclusion Initiative, addresses the needs of a diverse community where 14.5% of the population speaks a language other than English at home. The implementation of LanguageLine’s interpretation and translation services has allowed ACPS to issue parent notifications in both Spanish and English, ensuring effective communication and inclusivity. Additionally, ACPS has hired a dedicated interpreter/translator and introduced a district website and newsletter translation option, covering over 200 languages.
The integration of LanguageLine marks a significant step towards full language inclusivity in ACPS. The initiative aims to empower all parents, regardless of language proficiency, to participate actively in their children’s education. LanguageLine’s services, which include phone and video interpreting, virtual meeting integration, document translation, and in-person interpreting, have been used to overcome language barriers and foster a more engaged and participatory school community. According to the school, the partnership has been crucial for enhancing academic performance and building a supportive environment for all students and families.
Georgia: Innovative School System Makes the LanguageLine App Available to Faculty
Montgomery County Public Schools (MCPS), serving a diverse student body of over 160,000, has adopted the LanguageLine app to tackle the communication challenges within its multilingual community. This app offers on-demand audio interpretation services in more than 240 languages, including American Sign Language, accessible via smartphones, tablets, and desktops. It enables MCPS staff to connect instantly with professional interpreters, ensuring effective communication between educators and English Language Learners (ELLs) and their families. This service allows them to request interpreters for parent-teacher conferences and other communications.
The partnership between MCPS and LanguageLine Solutions addresses the significant language barriers that have historically impacted ELLs' educational opportunities. By providing comprehensive language support, MCPS meets federal mandates for language access solutions and reinforces its commitment to inclusivity and equal educational opportunities. This initiative ensures that all students, regardless of language proficiency, can succeed and that their families can actively participate in their educational journey, enhancing overall engagement and support for the diverse MCPS community.
LanguageLine Can Help
We are proud to be enthusiastic learning partners to these schools. We hope to assist your institution in the same way. Let's work together to ensure clear communication and empower individuals of all languages to thrive.
We invite you to learn more about LanguageLine’s educational offerings and to contact us for a free consultation.