A new Colorado law took effect Monday to improve education by reducing language barriers in special education learning plans.
House Bill23-1263, called Translating Individualized Education Programs, prevents interruptions from language barriers in schools and allows multilingual parents and guardians to be actively involved in their child’s education.
It was signed by Gov. Jared Polis on May 25.
Individualized education programs are mandatory for every public school student who qualifies for and receives special education services. Now, IEP must include each multilingual students’ primary language spoken at home.
This law positions students to improve their ability to learn and improve results in the classroom.
Brandi Durr, San Juan BOCES’ director of Exceptional Student Services, said the agency provides translation services to member districts. Because translation services are expensive, the Colorado Department of Education is developing a reimbursement structure to help offset district translation costs.
San Juan BOCES is less impacted by this House bill when compared with higher numbers in other regions across the state for multilingual students and families. San Juan BOCES has 1,119 students who have IEP.
Sen. Julie Gonzales, D-Denver, said in a news release that this law gives accessible opportunities for a diverse group of families to craft their students’ special education learning plan.
In Colorado, the dominant non-English language spoken by students with disabilities is Spanish, followed by a significant drop to Arabic and Vietnamese, as shown in a graph provided by Colorado Department of Education.
All special education-related documents, including the IEP and draft IEP, need to be translated to the primary language spoken at students’ homes.
Reps. Lorena Garcia, D-Adams County, Mary Young, D-Greeley, and Sen. Rachel Zenzinger, D-Arvada, joined Gonzales in sponsoring the law.
“Parents and guardians are invested in their child’s success at school, but language barriers can prevent them from understanding the details and requirements of their individual child’s education plan,” Garcia said. “This law works with local school districts to ensure that translated drafts of individualized education programs are provided so parents and guardians can be involved in their child’s special education eligibility. Together, we’re improving equity in our schools and making sure every learner is set up for success.”
