Training Qualified Interpreters for IEP Meetings (TQII) - Project Faculty and Program Modules

Oct 10, 2026

Training Qualified Interpreters for IEP Meetings (TQII) outlines a modular online training and testing program developed by the Illinois State Board of Education and University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign teams. The program supports designation as qualified IEP interpreters through three blended modules: language proficiency testing, special education terminology and practices training/testing (6 hours), and interpreting training/testing (9 hours). It details qualification requirements, law-based assessment domains and passing scores, exemption/waiver options, language needs by priority target languages, and recent cohort training updates with contact information.

LanguageEnglish

CategoryExam

FormatPDF

Pages10

Reading Time25 min

AccessFree to download

Meet the Project Faculty

TQII Project

Language Needs

Law Overview

Language Waiver

Special Education Waiver

Language Proficiency Testing

Updates

Training Updates

Contact Information

Training Qualified Interpreters for IEP Meetings (TQII) University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign & Illinois State Board of Education Meet the Project Faculty Professor Kiel Christianson Educational Psychology Professor Xun Yan Linguistics Professor Hedda MeadanKaplansky Special Education Reynaldo Pagura Translation & Interpreting Studies ProfessorJoyce Tolliver Spanish & Portuguese Studies TQII Project The Illinois State Board of Education (ISBE) and a team of experts atthe University of Illinois, Urbana-Champaign, are working together to develop a modular online training program for people who would like to be designated as "qualified IEP interpreters. " This program is a blend of synchronous and asynchronous online training and testing sessions, consisting of these three (3) modules: 1. Language Proficiency Testing (in English and the target language) 2. Special Education Terminology and Practices Training and Testing (6 hours) 3. Interpreting Training and Testing (9 hours) All "Qualified Interpreters" are required to participate in six (6) hours of "ongoing professional development." Our team will develop materials for this ongoing professional development before the first cohort of trainees reach two years post-qualification. Language Needs There are approximately 166 languages other than English spoken by children (and their parents) in Illinois school districts. ISBE has tasked our team to begin with the five most-commonly spoken languages other than English: Spanish, Polish, Arabic, Urdu and Russian. It is planned that all five of these languages will come online as part of the training program in the first five years. It is our hope that after these first five years, we will be able to add more languages at a faster pace, provided that funding from the state continues to be available. Individuals who can demonstrate proficiency in other TARGET languages, however, are invited to contact us to discuss the possibility of a waiver in the target language (and English, too, if documentation can be provided) and arrangements for accommodation within the SPED and Interpreting training modules. Law Overview Illinois Administrative Code 23, Chapter 1 Part 226.800 (section k) k) Qualified Interpreters 1) A qualified interpreter must: A) Meet all employment eligibility requirements of the school district. B) Demonstrate proficiency in English and the target language by passing State-approved language proficiency tests. A State-approved language proficiency test must include the following domains: listening, speaking, and reading (if the language exists in written form). C) Complete at least six hours of training on special education terminology and protocol. Individuals who already hold special education licenses, endorsements, or approvals are exempt from this six-hour training requirement. D) Complete at least nine hours of interpreting training E) Successfully pass an oral examination with a minimum score of 70% or higher & a written examination with a minimum score of 80% or higher Language Waiver An individual is exempt from the testing requirements of this subsection (l)(1)(B) if he or she meets any of the following: ii) For a target language proficiency test exemption, the individual: • possesses a post-secondary degree in which the official language of instruction, as documented, is the target language; • possesses the State Seal of Biliteracy with a minimum score of Advanced Low in the target langauge; • receives a score of 4 or higher on theAP language test in the target language; • currently possesses, or has possessed, an educator license with stipulations endorsed for transitional bilingual educator or professional educator license endorsed in LBSII/Bilingual Special Education Specialist or bilingual education; or • currently possesses an Administrative Office of the Illinois Courts Court Interpreter Certification, a Certified Medical Interpreter C

FAQs

What modules are included in the TQII training program?

TQII consists of three modules: Language Proficiency Testing, Special Education Terminology and Practices Training and Testing (6 hours), and Interpreting Training and Testing (9 hours).

What are the minimum passing scores for language proficiency and examinations?

Qualified interpreters must pass an oral examination with at least 70% and a written examination with at least 80%. Language proficiency tests must cover listening, speaking, and reading when a written form exists.

What waiver options can exempt an individual from certain testing or training requirements?

Exemptions may apply for language proficiency testing (e.g., documented post-secondary instruction in the target language, specified Seal of Biliteracy results, AP test scores, or certain educator/licensure credentials). Special education module waivers require submission of proof of bilingual special education endorsement before the module start date.

Oct 10, 2026

Uploaded by Jordan Avery