FLORIDA DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION
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STATE BOARD OF EDUCATION
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JIM HORNE
Commissioner of Education
F. PHILIP HANDY,
Chairman
T. WILLARD FAIR,
Vice Chairman
Members
SALLY BRADSHAW
LINDA J. EADS, ED.D.
CHARLES PATRICK GARCÍA
JULIA L. JOHNSON
WILLIAM L. PROCTOR, PH.D.
October 23, 2003
MEMORANDUM #03-55
TO:
Exceptional Student Education Directors
FROM:
Shan Goff
SUBJECT: Proposed Educational Interpreter Standards
Historically, the Department of Education (DOE), Bureau of Instructional Support and Community
Services has supported the development and implementation of standards for educational interpreters. In
August 2001, the Department developed the Proposed Standards for Educational Interpreters. The
proposed standards are attached and may be viewed at the following website:
http://www.firn.edu/doe/bin00014/pdf/interp-1.pdf.
The Department continues to pursue amendments to section 1012.53, Florida Statutes, to provide
authority for DOE to promulgate rules to require that instructional staff who provide educational
interpreting services for students who are deaf or hard-of-hearing demonstrate competencies identified by
the Department. Until such time that the statute is amended, we continue to encourage school districts to
utilize the draft standards when revising or developing policy and procedures related to educational
interpreters, including criteria for hiring and promotion.
Please share this information with appropriate staff. If you have additional questions regarding the
standards, please contact Shannon C. Simon, Director, Educational Interpreters Project, by telephone at
866-697-7150 or by electronic mail at ssimon@unf.edu. In addition, you may also contact the following
Department staff: Dawn Saunders, Program Specialist, by telephone at 850-245-0478 or by electronic
mail at Dawn.Saunders@fldoe.org; or Lezlie Cline, Program Specialist, by telephone at 850-245-0478 or
by electronic mail at Lezlie.Cline@fldoe.org.
SG/lcr
Attachment
cc:
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Coordinators for Deaf/Hard of Hearing
District Personnel Directors
Florida Diagnostic and Learning Resources System Managers
State Advisory Committee
SHAN GOFF
Chief
Bureau of Instructional Support and Community Services
325 W. GAINES STREET • SUITE 614 • TALLAHASSEE, FL 32399-0400 • (850) 245-0475 • www.fldoe.org
