Technology

Effectiff Champions Families’ Language Access in Education

US Reporter Staff

May 23, 2024
7:23 pm

Effectiff, a leading language service provider (LSP), highlights the necessity of treating parents as integral stakeholders in education. It shows that Language Access is essential for involving them in their children’s academic achievements.

Language can be both an enabler and a barrier. It promotes understanding and belonging for some, while it can hinder full participation for others. This is particularly evident in education. In multilingual American cities like New York, the variety of languages spoken at home enriches the educational environment and challenges schools to provide inclusive communication.

Since the 1960s, US law has required state and educational institutions to offer free Language Access in various languages, including American Sign Language, to students and their families. Schools receiving federal funds must provide information to families with limited English proficiency in their native language, ensuring their full participation in their children’s education.

Alex Leschinsky, CEO of Effectiff, explains that Language Access enables schools to communicate effectively with learners, ensuring equal opportunities for involvement and support in the educational process. While many think of Language Access as primarily a tool for non-English-speaking students or those with limited English proficiency (LEP), it is equally crucial for their parents. Effectiff strives to provide language support to both children and their parents, encouraging full family participation in the learning journey.

Why Language Access for Parents and Caregivers is Crucial

In the US, linguistic diversity creates communication challenges between many families and local educational institutions. According to the 2022 Census data, 45 million of the 333 million American population were born outside the US, and nearly 68 million individuals use a language other than English at home. About 21% of school-age children speak a language other than English at home. While children quickly learn English at school, their parents or guardians may still struggle with English fluency despite living in the United States for years.

This discrepancy results in several problems. Caregivers may struggle with tasks like understanding homework assignments, helping children complete them, communicating with teachers, or following school policies and procedures. These obstacles can negatively impact children’s academic performance and opportunities, such as scholarships, contests, and study-related travel, due to language barriers preventing parents from accessing important information.

The lack of Language Access affects not only the families but also the schools. Schools’ ratings depend on their students’ active participation and academic success, both of which can suffer without effective communication and family involvement. Language Access ensures that every student’s family has the resources to fully engage in their learning journey, leading to higher school ratings and an improved community reputation. High-performing schools attract more affluent residents, contributing higher taxes and creating a symbiotic relationship where investment in Language Access translates into a more robust educational system.

How Effectiff Supports Schools’ Language Access Efforts

Providing Language Access support involves extensive translation and interpretation work. Language service providers like Effectiff manage tasks such as translating written text and interpreting real-time speech to facilitate communication. Effectiff handles:

Report cards and academic progress reports
Homework assignments and instructional materials
School notices and policies
Parent-teacher conferences and district meetings
Educational workshops or seminars aimed at parents
IEP (Individualized Education Programs) meetings for parents of students with special educational needs

Effectiff Rapid Translate helps schools and families manage these aspects of educational communication. With experience across diverse industries, including healthcare and education, Effectiff understands that language support in schools extends beyond written translation and interpretation during IEP-related events or parent-teacher conferences. The company leverages modern technology, including AI and video remote interpreting (VRI).

Effectiff’s team of linguists uses machine translation and machine learning to translate numerous documents into various languages, providing timely support to students and their families. VRI allows teachers to connect with interpreters within 30 seconds, ensuring swift and accurate communication when urgently needed. Additionally, Effectiff prioritizes cultural sensitivity in every interaction, thanks to extensive training in cultural competency and linguistic nuances.

Effectiff also crafts unique language support strategies for each institution, working closely with school administration and management. “No two schools are the same when it comes to Language Access needs, so we don’t follow a one-size-fits-all approach here.” This commitment allows Effectiff to significantly impact the institutions they work with, fostering deeper engagement and understanding between families and educators by breaking down language barriers.

Looking ahead, one can expect US laws around Language Access to become more comprehensive. As schools grow more diverse, with students and families speaking various languages, the laws will demand higher standards of accuracy and cultural sensitivity from translation and interpretation services. LSPs like Effectiff are ready to meet this challenge, equipped with seasoned language experts, robust remote interpretation technology, and powerful AI tools fine-tuned to meet schools’ unique needs.