Families have the right to access education in a language they understand, ensuring meaningful participation in their child's learning. Schools are required by law, under Title VI of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 and the Equal Educational Opportunities Act (EEOA), to provide interpretation and translation services at no cost to families. This includes important meetings, documents, and communications to create an inclusive environment for all. Our commitment is to support every family in fully engaging with their child's education, honoring both legal requirements and the diverse languages spoken in our community.

 

Sample Notice to Parents/Guardians on Rights to Interpretation/Translation:

• Sample Interpretation Notice: Maine DHHS

Acholi PDF / Word	Amharic PDF / Word	Arabic PDF / Word	Chinese PDF / Word	Dinka PDF / Word
English PDF / Word	Farsi PDF / Word	French PDF / Word	German PDF / Word	Hindi PDF / Word
Japanese PDF / Word	Khmer PDF / Word	Kinyarwanda PDF / Word	Kirundi PDF / Word	Korean PDF / Word
Lingala PDF / Word	Pashto PDF / Word	Portuguese PDF / Word	Russian PDF / Word	Somali PDF / Word
Spanish PDF / Word	Swahili PDF / Word	Tagalog PDF / Word	Telugu PDF / Word	Thai PDF / Word
Ukrainian PDF / Word	Vietnamese PDF / Word

Tips for Choosing a Translation/Interpretation Company

1. Certified Translators & Interpreters
   Ensure the company employs professionals certified in both translation and interpretation, particularly for education and legal contexts. Certifications like those from the American Translators Association (ATA) or the National Board of Certification for Medical Interpreters (NBCMI) are important.

2. Localization Expertise
   Look for a company that understands localization—adapting content to reflect the cultural nuances and regional dialects of the target audience. This ensures messages resonate accurately with your community’s linguistic and cultural needs.

3. Specialization in Education
   Choose a company with experience in educational settings. They should be familiar with the terminology and context specific to schools, ensuring accurate interpretation of critical educational documents, meetings, and communications.

4. Quality Assurance Process
   Verify that the company has a clear quality assurance process in place, including proofreading, editing, and multiple levels of review to guarantee accurate, contextually appropriate translations.

5. Cultural Sensitivity & Confidentiality
   Partner with a company that values cultural sensitivity and confidentiality. They should have protocols for handling sensitive information, particularly when working with multilingual families in education, to protect privacy and build trust.

These considerations will help ensure that the translation and interpretation services you choose are both high-quality and culturally relevant.

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Service Providers

The Maine DOE does not officially endorse or recommend any specific interpretation or translation service provider. The information provided is intended solely for informational purposes to assist schools and organizations in identifying potential resources. It is the responsibility of the user to evaluate and determine the suitability of any service provider based on their individual needs and requirements.

• Association of Maine Interpreters and Translators
  Includes a current list of statewide interpreters and translators, ensuring access to certified professionals across Maine.

• Avalon Language Services
  Specializes in technical translation in 62 languages, with a focus on high-quality technical documentation and accuracy.

• Bangor Chinese School
  Provides interpretation services, focusing on Chinese language needs for local communities and educational support.

• Choice Translating & Interpreting, Inc. (Charlotte, NC)
  A full-service company offering translation and interpreting services across multiple languages for businesses and educational institutions.

• Day Translations
  Offers full-service translation and interpretation in any language, with a global reach and quick turnaround times.

• Green Linguistics
  Provides comprehensive language services including translation, localization, and interpreting, with a thorough three-step process to ensure accuracy.

• House of Languages (Portland, Maine)
  Offers translation and interpreting services in more than 30 languages, along with consultations on language access and interpreter training.

• Language Line Solutions
  A full-service provider offering translation and interpretation in over 170 languages, specializing in on-demand phone and video services.

• Language Partners (Catholic Charities Maine, Portland, ME)
  Delivers language support services including translation and interpretation, particularly for refugee and immigrant communities.

• Maine Language Connect
  Offers in-person interpretation and written translation for widely spoken languages in Maine, along with remote interpretation in over 200 languages.

• Mano en Mano
  Specializes in interpretation and translation for English/Spanish, providing services primarily in Washington and Hancock Counties.

• ReachMyTeach
  Translates messages (text, email, WhatsApp) and PDFs into over 130 languages, with on-demand video interpreters for real-time support.

• TransACT Communications, Inc. (Mulkiteo, WA)
  Specializes in parent notifications, offering translation and communication support for schools and educational institutions.

• Transperfect International Translation Services
  Provides services in over 100 languages, delivering translation and interpretation solutions for global business and education.

• wintranslation Professional Translation Services
  Offers translation in over 70 languages, including indigenous languages spoken in Maine and Canada, ensuring cultural sensitivity and accuracy.

State of Maine Government Contracts: Provides state-level contracts for translation and interpretation services, supporting governmental communication needs.

• In-Person Spoken Language Interpreting (Augusta, ME)
  Provides professional in-person interpreting services, focusing on ensuring clear communication in educational and public service settings.

• Telephonic Interpreting Services (Augusta, ME)
  Offers telephonic interpretation services, ensuring immediate language access for various government and educational services.