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.
The Maine Language Identification Card is available to download and use in your school to help identify the languages spoken by families.
Guidance for planning language access for multilingual families in your school or SAU.
Parent/Guardian Rights to Interpretation & Translation
A sample notice informing families of their right to interpretation and translation services is available from Maine DHHS. The Parent/Guardian Rights Notice is available below in each language as a PDF or Word document.
| Language | Formats | Language | Formats |
|---|---|---|---|
| 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
- 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.
- 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.
- 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.
- 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.
- 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.
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.
- Access Bridge — provides comprehensive language and accessibility services, including translation, localization, and interpreting, with a three-step process to ensure accuracy that is FERPA compliant.
- 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.
- 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. (Mukilteo, 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 — state-level contracts for translation and interpretation services, supporting governmental communication needs:
- In-Person Spoken Language Interpreting (Augusta, ME) — professional in-person interpreting services, focusing on clear communication in educational and public service settings.
- Telephonic Interpreting Services (Augusta, ME) — telephonic interpretation services, ensuring immediate language access for various government and educational services.
Contact
Jane Armstrong
ESOL State Specialist
Email: Jane.Armstrong@maine.gov