--- title: Will the school provide a translator at an IEP meeting if I need one? description: If you don’t speak English well, you may want a translator at your child’s IEP meeting. An expert explains if the school is required to provide one for you. slug: will-the-school-provide-a-translator-at-an-iep-meeting-if-i-need-one author: Barbara Hubert, MSEd published: '2019-08-05T15:38:29.716Z' thumbnail: https://cdn-images.understood.org/p0qf7j048i0q/3xoYhUjsmFUBzO50HOPwjj/76e3971d4263714a25f049ffa55fa710/G600000414.png source_url: https://www.understood.org/en/articles/will-the-school-provide-a-translator-at-an-iep-meeting-if-i-need-one lang: en --- # Will the school provide a translator at an IEP meeting if I need one? **Q. ****I don’t read or speak English well. I’m worried that I won’t understand what’s being discussed at my child’s IEP meeting. Someone told me the school is required to provide a translator for me. Is that true?** **A. **Yes, it’s true. Your observations and opinions are valuable and must be considered at the [IEP meeting](https://www.understood.org/en/articles/the-iep-meeting-an-overview). That’s why schools must take steps to help parents understand the proceedings. This includes providing an interpreter for you at the IEP meeting if you need one. It’s a good idea to let your child’s school know ahead of time so the staff can make arrangements to have an interpreter at the meeting. It helps to mention this as early as you can. Try to find out how much time the school generally needs to arrange for an interpreter. This will be useful to know when you’re scheduling other IEP meetings. You may also want to ask for important documents to be translated into your preferred language. This includes the evaluations, records, and reports that are used to assess your child, as well as the IEP. Many schools will translate some or all of these documents for you. At the very least, *all* schools are required to explain the documents to you in your preferred language. If you don’t understand something, you have the right to ask for more information. --- ## Explore related topics and articles - [Who’s on the IEP team](https://www.understood.org/en/articles/whos-on-the-iep-team) - An Individualized Education Program \(IEP\) is developed by a team of people. Each member plays an important role. Find out who is required by law to be on the IEP team, what role they play, and who else you can invite. IEP team members required by law You \(the parent or guardian\): By law, you have a - [Questions to ask before and during the IEP meeting](https://cdn-assets.understood.org/p0qf7j048i0q/6a7a4939af7d4d91a6a87606547134a1_en-US/29b9ad63730e26fab9567a8fd16fd411/Questions_to_Ask_Before_and_During_the_IEP_Meeting.pdf) - Questions to Ask Before the IEP Meeting What is the goal of this IEP meeting? Can we create an agenda for this meeting? May I have a copy of my childs most recent IEP document to follow along as we talk in the meeting? - [When and why teachers can be excused from IEP meetings](https://www.understood.org/en/articles/when-and-why-teachers-can-skip-iep-meetings) - It can be challenging to schedule an IEP meeting so everyone on the team can attend. Learn when and why teachers can be excused. --- ```json [{"@context":"https://schema.org","@type":"WebPage","@id":"https://www.understood.org/en/articles/will-the-school-provide-a-translator-at-an-iep-meeting-if-i-need-one#webpage","url":"https://www.understood.org/en/articles/will-the-school-provide-a-translator-at-an-iep-meeting-if-i-need-one","description":"If you don’t speak English well, you may want a translator at your child’s IEP meeting. An expert explains if the school is required to provide one for you."},{"@context":"https://schema.org","@type":"BreadcrumbList","itemListElement":[{"@type":"ListItem","position":1,"item":{"@id":"https://www.understood.org/en/articles/will-the-school-provide-a-translator-at-an-iep-meeting-if-i-need-one","name":"Will the school provide a translator at an IEP meeting if I need one?"}}]},{"@context":"https://schema.org","@type":"Article","datePublished":"2019-08-05T15:38:29.716Z","description":"If you don’t speak English well, you may want a translator at your child’s IEP meeting. An expert explains if the school is required to provide one for you.","headline":"Will the school provide a translator at an IEP meeting if I need one?","url":"https://www.understood.org/en/articles/will-the-school-provide-a-translator-at-an-iep-meeting-if-i-need-one","publisher":{"@type":"Organization","@id":"https://www.understood.org/#organization","name":"Understood for All Inc","logo":"https://cdn-images.understood.org/p0qf7j048i0q/307jFAYQevghG8nQMCjh89/ccdbbec895765824db43f6d30b496e83/logo_lockup_navy.jpg"}}] ```