The Boston Public Schools (BPS) provides oral interpretation services in the nine major languages spoken by families whose children attend Boston schools. Those languages are Arabic, Cape Verdean Creole, Chinese, French, Haitian Creole, Portuguese, Somali, Spanish, and Vietnamese. In addition to these languages, BPS supports others upon request. 

Interpretation involves the skill of listening to a message conveyed in one language and rendering it into another language, either orally or through sign language. 

Depending on the nature of the meeting, the District is equipped to provide either consecutive or simultaneous interpreting services as well as American Sign Language and Communication Access Real-Time Translation (CART). 

• Consecutive:  consecutive interpretation is when an interpreter interprets speech after the original speaker has paused or finished speaking. 

• Simultaneous: simultaneous interpretation means when an interpreter works in real-time, speaking without any pauses.

Parents/Guardians: If you need translation and/or interpretation services, contact the main office of your child/children(s) school. If your preferred language of communication is other than English, the District/School must provide you with “Essential Information” in the language you specify. Please review the DOJ Fact Sheet that clarifies your language access rights on the Resources and Tips page.