All schools are required to uphold the special rights of parents or legal guardians of English Language Learners (ELLs). Firstly, schools are obligated to provide an interpreter when such parents visit them, as well as to translate any information they send them (“Your Rights”, n.d.). Second, when they enter the building or make a specific service request, the schools are not allowed to question them about their immigration status. Thirdly, schools need to provide parents with access to ELL-specific programs and maintain comprehensive records of their child’s enrollment and progress in these programs.
Finally, ELL families are entitled to special education programs for their child, whether it is for gifted or special needs students. If the school lacks programs or facilities for them, they must relocate to a different school that does, paying for the relocation fees (“Your Rights”, n.d.). Hence, parents of ELLs are entitled to interpreters and translated school documentation, anonymity in terms of documentation status, full information on ELL programs, and access to special programs for their kids.
However, not all ELL families are aware of their rights, so it is essential to inform them, which can be done by providing them with relevant materials in their home language. Additionally, schools may encourage parents to attend meetings and other events. An illustration of this would be a school orientation session for parents that provides all the necessary information at the beginning of a semester. However, it would be advantageous to perform house visits with an interpreter, as some parents may be working at that time (“How to Reach”, n.d.). Hence, teachers can inform parents of their rights by sending them information and conducting school events and home visits.
Moreover, it is essential to ensure that schools are acting ethically in terms of respecting parents’ rights. As mentioned above, the families’ immigration status is a topic that should not be addressed while the school communicates with them. Additionally, if a teacher wants to visit a parent’s house, they must schedule it at a time and location that works for them. To avoid misconceptions, all translated content must express the meaning and context identical to the source (“How to Reach”, n.d.). Hence, schools must act ethically regarding the quality of translated documents, as well as the time, place constraints, and immigration status of families.
References
How to Reach Out to Parents of ELLs. (n.d.). Colorín Colorado.
Your Rights as the Parent of a Public School Student. (n.d.). Colorín Colorado.