Vital Information for Educational Interpreters (K-12)
Compiled by Catherine Keller, CI and CT

The State Board of Education has adopted regulatory language (CCR 3051.16[a][1] requiring that any educational interpreter for the deaf and hard of hearing students employed in a California public school as of January 1, 2007, must be certified by the Registry of Interpreters for the Deaf (RID) or equivalent, or if providing cued speech interpreting services, by any certifying body recognized by the National Cued Speech Association (NCSA).

These standards were established in response to a mandate set forth in the 1999 regulation pursuant to the Individuals With Disabilities Educations Act (IDEA) of 1997.

Specifically, the Code of Federal Regulations (CFR) Title 34, Section 300.238 defines the term "qualified personnel" as personnel who have met the "state education agency recognized certification. licensing, registration, or other comparable requirements that apply to the area in which the individuals are providing special education or related services." The comments pursuant to the regulations note that, "In order for interpreters to provide appropriate instruction or services to children with disabilities who require an interpreter in order to receive FAPE (Free and Appropriate Public Education), States must ensure that these individuals meet appropriate State qualification standards."

California State Department of Education Code States:

Section 3051.16 Any interpreter for the deaf and hard of hearing pupils employed as of January 1, 2007*, must be certified by the Registry of Interpreters for the Deaf (RID) or equivalent, or if providing cued speech interpreting services, by any certifying body recognized by the National Cued Speech Association (NCSA).

Equivalency to RID certification means, at this time, CDE will accept the following certifications as meeting the requirements of the regulations:

At this time, CDE will also accept the following assessments as meeting the requirements of the regulations:

California State Department of Education defines an educational interpreter as:

An educational interpreter is a classified employee, regardless of job title, whose essential duties include facilitating communication between students who are deaf or hard of hearing, and others, in the classroom and for other school related activities (i.e., assemblies, field trips, athletic events, student government, club activities, etc.) for all or any part of the work day.

The RID says, “Sign language/spoken English interpreters are highly skilled professionals. They must be able to listen to another person’s words, inflections and intent and simultaneously render them into the visual language of signs using the mode of communication preferred by the deaf consumer.

The interpreter must also be able to comprehend the signs, inflections and intent of the deaf consumer and simultaneously speak them in articulate, appropriate English. They must understand the cultures in which they work and apply that knowledge to promote effective cross-cultural communications.”

Information about the Certifications and Assessments required by the State of California Department of Education can be found at the following sites:

Thank you to Catherine Keller for compiling this information and to Catherine Thomas, President of SaVRID for allowing SDCRID to distribute this document. You can visit SaVRID’s website at: www.savrid.org