NY S05228

Requires all New York school districts to establish language assistance programs ensuring limited English proficient parents can effectively communicate with teachers and school personnel.

School districts must provide frequently used forms and written materials to limited English proficient parents in their primary language, language assistance for phone/in-person school concerns, and interpretation services for parent-teacher conferences, workshops, and school fairs.

Districts must mail notice of language assistance program availability to limited English proficient parents in their primary language and maintain records documenting program usage, number of complaints, and bilingual personnel employed.

Requires annual reporting to the commissioner including the number of limited English proficient parents served, households with at least one English-proficient parent, complaints filed, and bilingual staff used.

Defines "primary language" as one of the five most common non-English languages in a school district or any language spoken by more than five percent of district residents, as determined by federal census data; permits school districts to enter cooperative agreements to jointly establish programs.