[{"data":1,"prerenderedAt":-1},["ShallowReactive",2],{"doc-seo-537076-105":3,"detail-sidebar-cat-0-en-105":81,"doc-detail-537076-en":130},{"code":4,"msg":5,"data":6},0,"ok",{"site_id":7,"language":8,"slug":9,"title":10,"keywords":11,"description":12,"schema_data":13,"social_meta":74,"head_meta":76,"extra_data":78,"updated_unix":80},105,"en","educational-sign-language-interpreter-approval-frequently-asked-questions","Educational Sign Language Interpreter Approval - Frequently Asked Questions","","Approval guidance for educational sign language interpreters under the Illinois State Board of Education Special Education Services Department. The document outlines non-regulatory expectations and explains how interpreters support students who are deaf or hard of hearing, including communication needs tied to IDEA and IEP development. It details overall interpreter responsibilities, clarifies whether ISBE approved interpreters can interpret for IEP meetings, and lists other application, licensure, assessment, renewal, and employment-related questions. References include Illinois Administrative Code provisions and related federal IDEA directives.",{"@graph":14,"@context":73},[15,34,56],{"@type":16,"itemListElement":17},"BreadcrumbList",[18,23,27,31],{"item":19,"name":20,"@type":21,"position":22},"https://docshare.wps.com","Home","ListItem",1,{"item":24,"name":25,"@type":21,"position":26},"https://docshare.wps.com/document/","Document",2,{"item":28,"name":29,"@type":21,"position":30},"https://docshare.wps.com/document/exam/","Exam",3,{"item":32,"name":10,"@type":21,"position":33},"https://docshare.wps.com/document/educational-sign-language-interpreter-approval-frequently-asked-questions/537076/",4,{"url":32,"name":10,"@type":35,"image":36,"author":41,"headline":10,"publisher":44,"fileFormat":47,"inLanguage":8,"description":12,"dateModified":48,"datePublished":49,"encodingFormat":47,"isAccessibleForFree":50,"interactionStatistic":51},"DigitalDocument",{"url":37,"@type":38,"width":39,"height":40},"https://docshare.wps.com/thumbnails/educational-sign-language-interpreter-approval-frequently-asked-questions/537076.png","ImageObject",300,407,{"name":42,"@type":43},"Fans","Person",{"url":19,"name":45,"@type":46},"DocShare","Organization","application/pdf","2026-11-10","2026-10-10",true,{"@type":52,"interactionType":53,"userInteractionCount":55},"InteractionCounter",{"@type":54},"ViewAction",8,{"@type":57,"mainEntity":58},"FAQPage",[59,65,69],{"name":60,"@type":61,"acceptedAnswer":62},"What overall responsibilities do educational interpreters have?","Question",{"text":63,"@type":64},"An educational interpreter must be made available when indicated in the IEP and may assist communication among students who can hear and students who are deaf or hard of hearing, provide interpreting services across school levels (including extracurricular activities as needed), and provide tutoring assistance under a teacher’s direction.","Answer",{"name":66,"@type":61,"acceptedAnswer":67},"Can ISBE approved interpreters interpret for IEP meetings?",{"text":68,"@type":64},"Only interpreters licensed by the Illinois Deaf and Hard of Hearing Commission (IDHHC) may interpret for deaf or hard of hearing individuals who are not students. If an ISBE approved interpreter also holds an IDHHC license at the Intermediate level or above, they may interpret for an IEP meeting or similar situations where the client is not a student.",{"name":70,"@type":61,"acceptedAnswer":71},"What communication-related requirement supports why interpreters are needed?",{"text":72,"@type":64},"The document explains that IDEA directs IEP teams to consider a child’s communication needs, including language and communication mode, opportunities for direct communications, academic level, and the full range of needs, and it notes that students who are deaf or hard of hearing may require educational interpreters to be understood and to understand instruction.","https://schema.org",{"og:url":32,"og:type":75,"og:title":10,"og:site_name":45,"og:description":12},"article",{"robots":77,"canonical":32},"index,follow",{"doc_id":79,"site_id":7},537076,1791715820,{"code":4,"msg":82,"data":83},"success",[84,88,92,95,100,105,110,114,119,122,126],{"id":22,"doc_module":4,"doc_module_name":25,"category_name":85,"show_sort_weight":86,"slug":87},"Story & Novel",90,"story-novel",{"id":26,"doc_module":4,"doc_module_name":25,"category_name":89,"show_sort_weight":90,"slug":91},"Literature",80,"literature",{"id":33,"doc_module":4,"doc_module_name":25,"category_name":29,"show_sort_weight":93,"slug":94},70,"exam",{"id":96,"doc_module":4,"doc_module_name":25,"category_name":97,"show_sort_weight":98,"slug":99},5,"Comic",60,"comic",{"id":101,"doc_module":4,"doc_module_name":25,"category_name":102,"show_sort_weight":103,"slug":104},6,"Technology",50,"technology",{"id":106,"doc_module":4,"doc_module_name":25,"category_name":107,"show_sort_weight":108,"slug":109},7,"Healthcare",40,"healthcare",{"id":55,"doc_module":4,"doc_module_name":25,"category_name":111,"show_sort_weight":112,"slug":113},"Research & Report",30,"research-report",{"id":115,"doc_module":4,"doc_module_name":25,"category_name":116,"show_sort_weight":117,"slug":118},9,"Religion & Spirituality",20,"religion-spirituality",{"id":117,"doc_module":4,"doc_module_name":25,"category_name":120,"show_sort_weight":117,"slug":121},"World Cup","world-cup",{"id":123,"doc_module":4,"doc_module_name":25,"category_name":124,"show_sort_weight":123,"slug":125},10,"Lifestyle","lifestyle",{"id":127,"doc_module":4,"doc_module_name":25,"category_name":128,"show_sort_weight":96,"slug":129},19,"General","general",{"code":4,"msg":82,"data":131},{"doc_id":79,"user_id":132,"nickname":42,"user_avatar":133,"doc_module":4,"category_id":33,"category_name":29,"doc_title":10,"doc_description":12,"doc_content":134,"file_id":135,"file_url":136,"file_type":137,"file_size":138,"view_count":55,"is_deleted":4,"is_public":22,"is_downloadable":22,"audit_status":22,"page_count":123,"language":139,"language_code":8,"site_id":7,"html_lang":8,"table_of_contents":140,"faqs":141,"seo_title":142,"seo_description":12,"update_tm":143,"read_time":144,"preview_page_count":4},5909892330395,"https://ap-avatar.wpscdn.com/davatar_6f874abed73319feea01a86fa6f0fab8","| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |\n| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |\n| | \u003Cbr>Illinois State Board of Education Special Education Services Department\u003Cbr>Educational Sign Language Interpreter\u003Cbr>Approval: Frequently Asked Questions\u003Cbr>This document is intended to provide non-regulatory guidance on the subject matter listed above. For specific questions, please contact the Illinois State Board of Education.\u003Cbr>Dr . Carmen I. Ayala, State Superintendent\u003Cbr>August 2021 |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | |  |\n| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |\n|  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |\n\nEducational Sign Language Interpreter Approval: Frequently Asked Questions  \nTable of Contents  \nA.  \nA-1.  \nA-2.  \nA-3.  \nA-4.  \nB.  \nB-1.  \nB-2.  \nB-3.  \nB-4.  \nB-5.  \nC.  \nC-1.  \nC-2.  \nC-3.  \nC-4.  \nC-5.  \nC-6.  \nC-7.  \nC-8.  \nC-9.  \nD.  \nIntroduction  \nResponsibilities of Educational Interpreters  \nWhat are the overall responsibilities of an educational interpreter?  \nCan ISBE approved interpreters interpret for IEP meetings?  \nWhat are specific responsibilities educational interpreters have in the support of students who are deaf or hard of hearing?  \nCan the educational interpreter interpret for field trips and extracurricular activities?  \nGeneral Questions on Approval for Educational Interpreters  \nWhat are the educator licensure approval requirements for an educational interpreter?  \nHow can I apply to be an educational interpreter?  \nWhat if my approval isn’t complete and I have a job starting soon? Is interim approval ever an option for someone who is seeking approval as an educational interpreter  \nHow often must the approval be renewed? Are there any requirements for renewal?  \nSpecific Questions on Approval for Educational Interpreters  \nI already have an interpreter’s license. Why do I need to apply for ISBE approval? Do I need ISBE approval even if I am employed by an agency and assigned to a school posting?  \nDo I need to take the Educational Interpreter Performance Assessment (EIPA) to gain ISBE approval?  \nCan ISBE accept my Board for Evaluation of Interpreters (BEI) from another state? What do I need to submit if I am using the English proficiency portion of the RID certification as my educational component?  \nDo I need to take the Test of Basic Skills?  \nIs there a standard rate of pay for educational interpreters?  \nIs there an educational interpreter’s union?  \nDo I need a background check to work in a school district even if I am employed by an agency?  \nResources  \nPage 3  \nPage 3  \nPage 3  \nPage 4  \nPage 5  \nPage 5  \nPage 6  \nPage 7  \nPage 7  \nPage 7  \nPage 8  \nPage 8  \nPage 9  \nPage 9  \nPage 9  \nPage 9  \nPage 9  \nPage 10  \nPage 10  \nPage 10  \nCommunication is a universal need and is the cornerstone of a student’s academic and developmental journey. In recognition of this fact, the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA) includes the following statement as a directive to Individualized Education Program (IEP) teams to be cognizant of the following special factor in the development, review, and revision of a student’s IEP:  \nConsider the communication needs of the child, and in the case ofa child who  \nis deaf or hard of hearing, consider the child's language and communication  \nneeds, opportunities for direct communications with peers and professional  \npersonnel in the child's language and communication mode, academic level,  \nand full range of needs, including opportunities for direct instruction in the  \nchild's language and communication mode [34 CFR 300 .324(a)(2)(iv)] .  \nIn order to understand and to be understood, students who are deaf or hard of hearing may require educational interpreters. These interpreters must","cbCaig0Iywigku7x","https://ap.wps.com/l/cbCaig0Iywigku7x","pdf",288150,"English","# Introduction\n# Responsibilities of Educational Interpreters\n## What are the overall responsibilities of an educational interpreter?\n## Can ISBE approved interpreters interpret for IEP meetings?\n## What specific responsibilities support students who are deaf or hard of hearing?\n## Can the educational interpreter interpret for field trips and extracurricular activities?\n# General Questions on Approval for Educational Interpreters\n## What are the educator licensure approval requirements?\n## How can I apply to be an educational interpreter?\n## What if my approval isn’t complete and I have a job starting soon?\n## How often must the approval be renewed?\n# Specific Questions on Approval for Educational Interpreters\n## I already have an interpreter’s license. Why do I need ISBE approval?\n## Do I need to take the Educational Interpreter Performance Assessment (EIPA)?\n## Can ISBE accept my Board for Evaluation of Interpreters (BEI) from another state?\n## Do I need to take the Test of Basic Skills?\n## Is there a standard rate of pay for educational interpreters?\n## Is there an educational interpreter’s union?\n## Do I need a background check if I am employed by an agency?","[{\"question\":\"What overall responsibilities do educational interpreters have?\",\"answer\":\"An educational interpreter must be made available when indicated in the IEP and may assist communication among students who can hear and students who are deaf or hard of hearing, provide interpreting services across school levels (including extracurricular activities as needed), and provide tutoring assistance under a teacher’s direction.\"},{\"question\":\"Can ISBE approved interpreters interpret for IEP meetings?\",\"answer\":\"Only interpreters licensed by the Illinois Deaf and Hard of Hearing Commission (IDHHC) may interpret for deaf or hard of hearing individuals who are not students. If an ISBE approved interpreter also holds an IDHHC license at the Intermediate level or above, they may interpret for an IEP meeting or similar situations where the client is not a student.\"},{\"question\":\"What communication-related requirement supports why interpreters are needed?\",\"answer\":\"The document explains that IDEA directs IEP teams to consider a child’s communication needs, including language and communication mode, opportunities for direct communications, academic level, and the full range of needs, and it notes that students who are deaf or hard of hearing may require educational interpreters to be understood and to understand instruction.\"}]","Educational Sign Language Interpreter Approval - Frequently Asked Questions | PDF",1791603897,25]