April 10, 2003
TO THE ADMINSTRATOR ADDRESSED:
SUBJECT: Requirements for Educational Interpreters for 2003-2004
Interpreters for students who are deaf or hard of hearing must be certified as interpreters or have an emergency permit granted by the Texas Education Agency (TEA). The authority for this requirement is the Texas Administrative Code (TAC), Title 19, Section 89.1131(d) and the Code of Federal Regulations (CFR), Title 34, Section 300.136(g). This rule became effective March 1, 2001. Section 89.1131 (d) states:
Interpreting services for students who are deaf shall be provided by an interpreter who is certified in the appropriate language mode(s), if certification in such mode(s) is available. If certification is available, the interpreter must be certified by the Registry of Interpreters for the Deaf or the Texas Commission for the Deaf and Hard of Hearing, unless the interpreter has been granted an emergency permit by the commissioner of education to provide interpreting services for students who are deaf. The commissioner shall consider applications for the issuance of an emergency permit to provide interpreting services for students who are deaf on a case-by-case basis in accordance with requirements set forth in 34 CFR, §300.136, and standards and procedures established by the TEA. In no event will an emergency permit allow an uncertified interpreter to provide interpreting services for more than a total of three school years to students who are deaf.
Pursuant to this Commissioner rule, TEA has established procedures which stipulate that a request for an emergency permit must be submitted to the Agency within 30 days of hiring a non-certified interpreter or within 30 days of the start of the school year.
A district should make every attempt to hire a certified interpreter, if one is available. However, if a certified interpreter is not available, the hiring district must complete and submit an application for an emergency permit to TEA Services for the Deaf. On this application form, the district must verify that the interpreter has the skills and knowledge to provide interpreting services, and the interpreter must agree to work toward obtaining certification. An application form is available from http://www.tea.state.tx.us/deaf/permitform.html, and a copy is included with this letter. Districts must apply for permits for non-certified interpreters on an annual basis, and an emergency permit will not be approved for more than three years for any interpreter.
According to 34 CFR §300.136(g), interpreters who are granted emergency permits must show evidence of satisfactory progress toward completing applicable course work necessary to meet the state standard for certification within three years. To ensure compliance with this federal regulation, TEA standards and procedures require that an interpreter with an emergency permit receive the following training:
| Year of Emergency Permit | Requirements | Due Date |
| Year 1 | 12 hours of training related to interpreting; submit plan for meeting training requirements | • 6 hours completed and submitted to TEA by 12/15/03 • 6 hours completed and submitted to TEA by 5/15/04 |
| Year 2 | 12 hours of training related to interpreting; submit plan for meeting training requirements | • 6 hours completed and submitted to TEA by 12/15/03 • 6 hours completed and submitted to TEA by 5/15/04 |
| Year 3 (final year) | 12 hours of training related to interpreting; submit plan for meeting
training and mentoring requirements
Work with certified mentor interpreter on monthly basis (Sept. 2003 through April 2004) Take state or national interpreter certification test |
• 6 hours completed and submitted to TEA by 12/15/03 • 6 hours completed and submitted to TEA by 5/15/04 • Submit documentation of completion to TEA by 5/15/04 • Take by April 30, 2004; submit documentation to TEA by 5/15/04 |
When submitting an application for an emergency permit for a non-certified interpreter, the district must include a plan for meeting the training requirements. If an emergency permit is approved for an interpreter, the district must ensure that the interpreter completes required training related to interpreting, and the district must submit documentation of completed training in accordance with the timelines set out in the chart.
For more information about educational interpreters for the deaf and certification requirements, contact the Division of Services for the Deaf at (512) 463-9424 or go to http://www.tea.state.tx.us./deaf/cert.html.
Respectfully yours,
Paul Cruz, Ph.D.
Deputy Commissioner
Dropout Prevention and Initiatives