Supporting Schools: Tips for School Districts Preparing for Multilingual Education

With classrooms increasingly becoming linguistically diverse annually, the 2025 academic year presents both promising prospects and novel obstacles for educators and school districts.

At Teneo Linguistics Company (TLC), we believe every student deserves to thrive, regardless of the language they speak at home. Let’s explore practical ways schools can prepare for multilingual education, and how professional language services can make the journey smoother, compliant, and impactful.

The Multilingual Classroom: Today’s Reality

Did you know that over five million English Learners (ELs) are enrolled in U.S. public schools? Students are entering schools conversing in Spanish, Vietnamese, Arabic, Mandarin, Somali, and numerous other languages.

Moreover, it is not solely kids that require language access; parents and guardians frequently necessitate it to fully participate in their children's education.

For schools and districts, this reality brings significant responsibilities:

• Equity and Inclusion - Linguistic obstacles must not impede kids' academic achievement or hinder families from essential school communications.

• Academic Readiness - Supporting students in their home language while helping them acquire English can accelerate learning across subjects and reduce achievement gaps.

• Community Engagement - Multilingual communication fosters trust, partnership, and a sense of belonging among families from diverse backgrounds.

Key Tips for Schools Preparing for Multilingual Education

Here are some proactive ways that district administrators, teachers, and principals may help multilingual students in the upcoming academic year:

1. Audit Your Communication Needs

Start by identifying:

• Which languages are most common among your student population?

• What types of documents or events require translation or interpreting (e.g., IEP meetings, report cards, disciplinary notices, emergency alerts)?

• Where are the gaps? Do language problems make it difficult for families to participate in some areas?

A language services partner like TLC can help you conduct a language access needs assessment tailored to your community.

2. Plan for Document Translation

All families must have access to important records, such as:

• Enrollment packets

• Student handbooks

• Individualized Education Programs (IEPs)

• Health forms

• Discipline policies

• Consent forms

  
  

Relying on bilingual staff or machine translation tools for official documents can lead to errors and compliance issues. Professional translation ensures clarity, cultural relevance, and legal accuracy.

3. Offer Interpreting for Key Events

Imagine being a parent invited to discuss your child’s progress but unable to understand the conversation. Schools should plan for professional interpreting at:

• Parent-teacher conferences

• IEP and 504 meetings

• Disciplinary hearings

• School board meetings

• Emergency communications

  
  

Over-the-phone interpreting (OPI) services, like those offered by TLC, provide on-demand, FERPA-compliant access to interpreters in over 200 languages, perfect for sudden or urgent needs.

4. Train Your Staff

Even bilingual teachers may not be trained interpreters or translators. Help your staff:

• Recognize when professional services are required

• Understand cultural considerations in communication

• Learn how to work effectively with interpreters

  
  

5. Create Accessible Digital Content

Digital communication is essential for modern schools. Ensure your websites, apps, and digital materials:

• Offer multilingual navigation and content

• Are accessible to individuals with disabilities (Section 508 compliance)

• Maintain data security and privacy, especially in student records

  
  

TLC’s digital accessibility and translation services can help your district stay compliant and inclusive.

6. Engage Families as Partners

Ultimately, language services are not just a compliance box to check, they’re a bridge to strong relationships with families. Multilingual outreach:

• Builds trust and respect

• Improves student outcomes

• Fosters an inclusive school community

  
  

Consider periodic multilingual newsletters, family nights with interpreters present, or multilingual feedback surveys to keep families connected and involved.

How TLC Can Help Schools Succeed

At TLC, we partner with schools districts nationwide to:

✔ Translate critical documents accurately and confidentially

✔ Provide rapid-response interpreting services

✔ Conduct language needs assessments and language proficiency tests

✔ Ensure digital content is both multilingual and accessible

Helping educators provide learning spaces where each student and family feels seen, heard, and empowered is something we are passionate about.

Ready for the 2025 School Year?

Proactive planning ensures your district can:

• Comply with regulations

• Avoid costly errors or misunderstandings

• Foster equity and inclusion for all students

  
  

Connect with TLC today for a consultation. Let’s make the 2025 school year the most inclusive and successful yet for every student, in every language.

Want to learn more about how TLC supports multilingual education? Contact us at info@tlctranslation.com or visit our website to explore our full range of educational language services.

Together, let’s turn language from a barrier into a bridge, for every learner.