Classroom Interpreters - Professional Conduct Guidelines
Educational interpreters work in a totally different context than interpreters who work in the adult community. IDEA defines the educational interpreter as a "related service provider", a legally-defined member of the educational team. That legal definition provides the framework for describing professional practices in the K-12 setting.
Educational interpreting is based on a different set of principles that guide professional practice. Educational interpreters work in public schools and are legally responsible for implementing the student's Individual Education Plan.
The national organization of interpreters, the Registry of Interpreters for the Deaf, has developed guidelines, please check their website. These guidelines can provide some direction to educational interpreters, particularly in the domain of interpreting as a profession. Educational interpreters also exist within an educational community, with many roles mandated by federal, state, and school districts rules and regulations.
In this section, the concepts that underlie professional practice in an educational setting. These concepts are distinguished from those principles that underlie adult community practice. These professional practice concepts also are available in the EIPA Code of Conduct for Educational Interpreters, which may be freely downloaded and distributed. Comments about the concepts we propose. This section discusses:
- Educational Interpreting: Why Is It Different?
- The Educational Interpreter Works for the School and Educational Team
- Legal Requirements for All Individuals Who Work in Public Schools
- Legal Requirements for Members of an IEP Team
- The Educational Interpreter is a Developmental Professional
- Rules, Regulations and Legal Issues
