--- title: DRAFT Staff Language Access Plan document; Plan, Procedures, etc. - FOR BOARD --- ## Language Access Plan to Ensure Effective ## Communication with Multilingual Students and ## Families at Osseo Area Schools ## OUR COMMITMENT Osseo Area Schools is dedicated to ensuring that every family has timely and meaningful access to information and services. With more than 125 languages spoken in our district, we are committed to providing multilingual communication that promotes the inclusive participation of all community members. This Language Access Plan provides information about tools, processes, and resources available for students, families, and staff at Osseo Area Schools. This plan aligns with Minnesota Statute 123B.32 and federal civil rights laws to ensure students and families can participate fully in their education. ## PURPOSE A Language Access Plan (LAP) is a comprehensive document that outlines a school district’s commitment and strategies to ensure equitable access to services for individuals who speak a language other than English or require additional assistance due to a disability. What is language access? ● Language access means providing individuals who communicate in a language other than English with timely and reasonable access to the same information and services as English-speaking individuals. ● Meaningful access: ○ Language assistance that results in accurate, timely, and effective communication at no cost to the individual. ○ For English Learners, meaningful access denotes access that is not unreasonably restricted, delayed, or inferior, as compared to access to programs or activities provided to English-proficient individuals. ## DEFINITIONS To ensure clarity for our community, we use the following definitions: ● Interpretation: The process of converting a spoken or signed message from one language into another. ● Translation: The process of converting written text from one language into another while maintaining the meaning of the original message. ● Language services: Resources and services that facilitate timely and meaningful communication between the district and families who prefer communication in a language other than English. ● Language Access Plan (LAP): A document describing the services, processes, and procedures our district uses to ensure effective communication with all students and families. ● Preferred language: The specific language a family indicates they prefer for all school-to-home correspondence. ● Multilingual learner: A broad category for students who speak, understand, or are exposed to multiple languages, including students who are currently receiving English Learner (EL) program services and those who never qualified for that support. ● Bilingual staff: Employees who are speakers of more than one language. They may use their language skills to assist with basic interactions as part of their regular work. They’re not necessarily trained or certified as interpreters for formal meeting…