Language Access – Interpretation and Translation Services

Welcome Families!

BSD recognizes that communication and partnership with parents and guardians is vital for the educational success of students. We are committed to improving meaningful, two-way communication and promoting access to district programs, services and activities for students and parents/guardians who require communication in a language other than English at no cost to the family.

View the Language Access Notification in Your Language

What is Language Access?

Language access describes services and supports that address communication barriers between individuals who cannot yet speak, understand, read, or write effectively in a shared language.

Language Access Services*:

These services are available at no cost!

• Oral Interpretation:
  • Face to face (In-Person)
  • Remote via phone, Teams, Zoom, and other video platforms.
  • Transcription and multimedia

• Written document translation:
  • Done by human.
  • Done by Machine (including in messaging apps)
  • Done by Human/Machine Combo

*BSD work with trained interpreter and translator employees to ensure the quality and the confidentiality of language access services.

How do families request language access services at no cost?

If you need interpretation or translation to understand information from your child’s school or to communicate with your child’s school:

• Ask for an interpreter at the school’s front desk, or ask if the staff person can get an interpreter on the telephone using Language Line Solutions (Instant telephonic interpretation services).
• Call the school’s main phone number and ask for an interpreter.
• Send a short email (in English or in your own language) asking for someone to call you, with an interpreter, to plan a meeting or talk about a question or concern.

Example email to request an interpreter:

Dear Teacher (or Principal, Counselor, Nurse): My name is ____ I am the parent of ____. I want to talk with you about my child. Can you please call me with an interpreter? My phone number is: ____. Thank you.

• If you receive a written notice, an email, or other document in English and you do not understand it, ask the person who sent it for a translation into your language.
• If the person cannot provide a full written translation in time, ask to meet with a school staff person and an interpreter to have the document orally translated, with enough time for you to take notes.

If you have additional questions, or need help getting interpretation or translation, contact:

• Your child’s Principal.
• The Bellevue School District Language Access Coordinator at languageaccess@bsd405.org

Parents Rights in Terms of Language Access.

Parents have the right to receive important information from schools in a language they can understand. Bellevue School District must provide interpretation and/or translation services, when needed, to communicate with parents who have limited English (including parents with limited speaking, listening, reading or writing fluency in English).

More information on Language Access Rights can be found at the following links:

You can receive a copy of the district’s language access policy and procedure in any school or district office. You can also read them online here:

• Policy 4218 Language Access Plan (web)
• Procedure 4218P Language Access Plan (web)

View the policies as a Printable PDF:

• Policy 4218 Language Access Plan (PDF)
• Procedure 4218P Language Access Plan (PDF)
• Procedure 4218P Exh A – Process for Requesting Interpretation Services (PDF)

Concerns and Complaints

If you have concerns about the school’s interpretation or translation services—or if you were not offered an interpreter or translation you needed—you have several options.

Talk with your principal or a school employee you are comfortable with. A discussion with your school principal is often the best first step to address your concerns. Explain what happened, and let the principal know what they can do to help resolve the problem.

Talk with your school district. You can also contact the Bellevue School District’s Civil Rights Compliance officer Nancy Pham at (425) 456-4040 or phamn@bsd405.org to share your concerns.

Ask for help resolving your concerns. You can also contact these agencies for more information about your rights or for assistance to resolve your concerns.

You can file a complaint. To file a complaint, explain what happened in writing—in any language—and send it to the district by mail, email, or hand delivery. Make sure to keep a copy for your records. Within 30 calendar days, the district will investigate your complaint and respond to you in writing. Learn more about your complaint options.