As stated in our school’s mission, it is our priority to assist parents in their role as primary educators of their children. To achieve a strong home-school partnership, the ESL Department communicates with EL families regularly. Throughout the school year, ESL teachers attend parent conferences, communicate with families via phone and/or email, as well as complete ELE progress reports three times a year. The ESL Department also hosts various events throughout the school year for both ESL families and the AKF community. These events include, but are not limited to, Multicultural Night and ACCESS Night.
Translation Policy
Abby Kelley Foster Charter Public School provides all parents/guardians of limited English proficiency the opportunity to have documents translated and/or meetings interpreted into their native language by request.
When a child enrolls at Abby Kelley Foster Charter Public School, parents/guardians are provided with a home language survey that indicates native language and includes the option to formally request translated documents. Translated home language surveys are also available during the enrollment process. The home language survey is administered by one of the school’s ESL teachers, including the ESL Director. Although the home language survey is the primary source for the indication of translation preference, parents can be added to the translation list at any point in the school year, upon request. Additionally, parents can be removed from the translation list pending written notification by the parent to the ESL Director.
Per state and federal guidelines, schools must communicate information to limited English proficient parents in a language they can understand about any program, service, or activity that is called to the attention of parents who are proficient in English.
This includes, but is not limited to, information related to:
- registration and enrollment in school and school programs
- grievance procedures and notices of nondiscrimination
- language assistance programs
- parent handbooks
- report cards
- gifted and talented programs
- student discipline policies and procedures
- magnet and charter schools
- special education and related services, and meetings to discuss special education
- parent-teacher conferences
- requests for parent permission for student participation in school activities