State and Federal law requires the Boston Public Schools to communicate meaningfully with parents or guardians who are not proficient in English. The attached resource documents from the United States Department of Justice and the United States Department of Education provide information specific to your rights as parents and guardians to be provided information in a language you can understand.

Please find the complete guidance and additional resources here: https://www2.ed.gov/about/offices/list/ocr/ellresources.html

Information for Limited English Proficient (LEP) Parents and Guardians and for Schools and School Districts that Communicate with Them

Español | Tiếng Việt | Soomaali | Português | 中文 | Kriolu di Kabu Verdi | Kreyòl Ayisyen | العربية | Français

This fact sheet answers common questions about the rights of parents and guardians who do not speak, listen, read, or write English proficiently because it is not their primary language.

Must my child’s school provide information to me in a language I can understand?

Yes. Schools must communicate information to limited English proficient parents in a language they can understand about any program, service, or activity that is called to the attention of parents who are proficient in English. This includes, but is not limited to, information related to:

Click here to learn about EL parent rights.

Ensuring English Learner Students Can Participate Meaningfully and Equally in Educational Programs

Español | Tiếng Việt | Soomaali | Português | 中文 | Kriolu di Kabu Verdi | Kreyòl Ayisyen | العربية | Français

English learner (EL) students constitute nine percent of all public school students and are enrolled in nearly three out of every four public schools. Under Title VI of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 (Title VI) and the Equal Educational Opportunities Act of 1974 (EEOA), public schools must ensure that EL students can participate meaningfully and equally in educational programs.

Ensuring Meaningful Communication with Limited English Proficient Parents

• LEP parents are entitled to meaningful communication in a language they can understand, such as through translated materials or a language interpreter, and to adequate notice of information about any program, service, or activity that is called to the attention of non-LEP parents.
• For more information about the civil rights of LEP parents and guardians and districts’ specific obligations to parents of EL students, visit http://www2.ed.gov/about/offices/list/ocr/docs/dcl-factsheet-lep-parents- 201501.pdf. 

Click here to learn about EL student rights.

 I- SPEAK CARDS FOR PARENTS

I-Speak Cards for parents are resources that provide access to I-Speak Cards in the nine major languages of the District to download/take a picture and use them to show them the school/district staff to request support in their preferred language and/or identify the language they speak. I-Speak Cards are available in the following languages: 

Arabic, Cabu Verdeano, Chinese, French, Haitian, Portuguese, Somali, Spanish, Vietnamese 

TalkingPoints For Families

TalkingPoints is a two-way multilingual family engagement platform allowing educators and administrators the opportunity to communicate with families in their native language (including English speakers) via the web, mobile, or text messages. Please click the links below to learn more about TalkingPoints:   

• TalkingPoints for Families (Available in the 9 major languages of the District)
• Getting Started guide for families in English, Spanish (more to come)

Video Tutorials: 

• (Arabic) How to Use TalkingPoints
• (Cantonese) How to Use TalkingPoints | 如何使用TalkingPoints
• (Haitian Creole) How to use TalkingPoints| Kijan "TalkingPoints" lan mache
• (Mandarin) How to Use TalkingPoints | 如何使用TalkingPoints
• (Somali) How To Use TalkingPoints | Casharro Sida Loo IsticmaaloTalking Points oo Maqal-muuqaal ah
• (Spanish) Talking Points | Como Funciona Talking Points
• (Vietnamese) How to Use TalkingPoints | Cách sử dụng TalkingPoints