Language Justice

Under New York State law, all English Language Learners (ELLs) have a right to the resources, services, and support they need to be able to achieve the same educational goals and meet the same standards as the monolingual student population. Many PAs/PTAs help provide parents with information and resources they need to understand their children's rights and to advocate for the services and support to which their children are entitled. An important part of language access is ensuring that interpretation services are provided at meetings and that documents for families are translated into other languages - from IEPs to health and enrollment forms.

The resources below can be helpful to PTAs/PAs seeking more information on how to access translation services from the DOE, and for more resources and general support for Multilingual Learners/English Language Learners.

ORGANIZATION

AFC's Immigrant Students' Rights Project

Advocates for Children's Immigrant Students' Rights Project provides support to immigrant student and parents by representing them in school administrative hearings, helping parents enroll their children in effective English Language Learner (ELL) programs, and assisting older immigrant youth in finding appropriate school placements. In addition, it provide tools and information to parents on how to address problems in their children’s schools, and works to create stronger partnerships with their local schools to improve their school communities.

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ORGANIZATION

Make the Road New York

Make the Road New York's Education Justice Project improves public schools for students and their families. It works to relieve public school overcrowding, expand college opportunities and support parents and students in claiming a bigger voice in their education. 

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Resource: link

Campaign for Educational Equity’s Know Your Rights: English Language Learner Resource Requirements

The Campaign for Educational Equity, a nonprofit research and policy center at Teachers College, Columbia University, published a pamphlet, available in English and Spanish, describing the rights of ELLs and the specific services and supports that all New York schools must provide to these students.

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ORGANIZATION

Coalition for Asian American Children and Families

The Coalition for Asian American Children and Families (CACF) advocates for equity and opportunity for marginalized Asian Pacific American (APA) children and families. It is the nation’s only pan-Asian children and families’ advocacy organization bringing together community-based organizations, youth, and community allies to fight for equity for APAs. Their vision is for all children and families, including APAs, in New York City to be safe, healthy, and able to reach their full potential in life.

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ORGANIZATION

New York Immigration Coalition

The New York Immigration Coalition (NYIC) is an umbrella policy & advocacy organization that represents over 200 immigrant and refugee rights groups throughout New York. The NYIC Education Collaborative works to improve the quality of education for New York’s Multilingual Learners/English Language Learners and immigrant student population, and to ensure that parents have opportunities to meaningfully engage in their children’s education.

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Resource: link

DOE's Translation Resources

The DOE website provides translation of their webpages in most languages by selecting a language option at the top of the screen. The DOE also has translation resources for remote learning, the IEP process, health forms, special education communications, early childhood communications and enrollment forms, in addition to providing sign language interpretation services.

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