Professional Translation Provides Fair & Balanced Assessments Among Students

Schools and academic programs in the United States strive every day to implement equal access to education for ALL their students, including English Language Learners (ELLs).

As the ELL population grows, so does the need for accurate and fair testing for those students. They must be provided with translated assessments that measure their level of comprehension equally to the students who are English proficient.

This is why there is an increasing number of educational organizations opting to partner with experienced Language Service Providers for quality translation of assessment content.

Regulations Put Pressure on Schools

In 2015, the National Center for Education Statistics reported that 9.5% (4.8 million) of all students in the U.S. were classified as ELLs, and the population continues to grow. ELL students are not yet proficient in English but are in the process of developing their English language skills.

The No Child Left Behind Act of 2001 requires schools to be held accountable for the achievement of ELLs, prompting school staff to dramatically change how they approach their education.

On top of that, 42 states currently follow Common Core State Standards which outline what students should know at the end of each grade for primary and secondary education. States that adopt these federal standards risk losing federal funding if they do not meet them. Again, this puts pressure on schools to ensure all students – including ELLs – are being taught to Common Core Standards.

States that have not adopted Common Core standards have to adhere to their State Board of Education requirements, which can be a daunting task on its own.

Translation by Professionals Ensures Fair Testing

Partnering with an experienced language services provider (LSP) is the ONLY way to ensure accurate translation of assessments that provide fair testing among students. When seeking professional translation from LSPs, asking the right questions and discussing their processes is essential. Consider these tips during your search:

Partnership

Is the LSP focused on building a successful partnership with your organization? Do they have your success, and your student’s success in mind?

As you discuss the project with potential LSP candidates, make sure they are focused on building a partnership.

For example, setting up an initial meeting to discuss all your needs, preferences, and regulatory requirements is a sign that the LSP is in a partnership mindset. They should also create a customized process that fits your needs the best.

Utilizes Qualified Translators

Whichever LSP you choose to partner with should employ qualified and vetted language professionals. Only translators who are native to the country/region of the target language will accurately be able to translate your assessment.

Upon acceptance of the project, the LSP should build a production team of language professionals that specialize in the subject matter and have experience in educational translation. Professional translators have the cultural knowledge and educational training needed to accurately translate your content.

ISO Certified

The International Organization for Standardization (ISO) develops and publishes standards for almost every industry across the globe, and hundreds of companies (including Fortune 500 companies) are ISO certified.

The certification specifies requirements for the organization’s quality management system to ensure that they are continuously improving their processes. To stay certified, the organization must pass an annual audit that confirms they meet quality requirements.

Seek out LSPs that are ISO certified because they are focused on continuously improving their processes to benefit their clients.

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