Over-the-phone interpretation services are available to all Department of Education personnel that come into contact with limited-English-proficient parents. This service offers the ability to communicate with a parent with the assistance of an interpreter on the phone. This service is useful for overcoming language barriers when contacting a child’s household, or for unexpected visits from parents who cannot communicate proficiently in English.

Over-the-phone interpretation services are available through the Translation and Interpretation Unit between the hours of 8 a.m. and 5 p.m., Monday through Friday, except on select holidays. These hours are extended during scheduled Parent-Teacher Conferences. To access these services please call 718-752-7373 ext. 4.

It is highly recommended that you download, print and prominently display the Translation and Interpretation Unit’s Language Identification Card at every entry point where parents may access a Department of Education facility. This card facilitates the language identification process by instructing limited-English-proficient parents to identify their native language from a list of translated instructions. Once the language needed has been identified you may ask for an interpreter for that language when contacting us.

Please note that sometimes it may take several minutes to get the interpreter on the line. When you call in, you will be asked to stay on the line for the duration of the call – the interpreter acts only to facilitate communication between you and the parent and is unable to provide them with any information directly.