24MAOSTBH1 - Q and A March 6 2024.docx

135 Santilli highway, Everett, MA 02149 | 781.338.3000 | TTY: N.E.T. Relay (800).439.2370

Questions and Answers

Alternate ID #: 24MAOSTBH1 COMMBUYS Bid #: BD-24-1026-DOE02-DOE01-89929

1. Do training courses need to have approved provider for each foreign language? If yes, what are the targeted languages?

Participants in the courses may speak multiple target languages. The primary instructor must complete DESE’s instructor training program, if approved through Pathway A. If there are participants within the course that a speak a target language the instructor cannot provide feedback in, the instructor may sub-contract for a secondary instructor to participate in practice activities and/or grade assignments for the languages which the instructor does not speak. Any individual who assists in providing feedback to participants in the training courses must have met the language proficiency requirements outlined in Attachment A for the target language of the participant they observe. We encourage individuals from a variety of backgrounds and target languages to become instructors.

2. Do we understand correctly that Tier 2 and Tier 3 coursework for approved providers allows vendors to bill for education training sessions? If yes, how much are they willing to pay?

Approved providers may charge a fee for participants to register for their training sessions. The fee vendors propose to charge should be included in the application and will be assessed as part of the scorecard- “proposed fee structure is of best value”.

3. Can in-person sessions be replaced by zoom sessions?

Approved providers may offer the training courses in a blended learning format or an online format. The blended learning format combines in-person sessions with asynchronous recordings and discussions. The online format includes synchronous meetings, through Zoom or a similar technology, with asynchronous recordings and discussions. In either format, there must be weekly live sessions; the course cannot be offered as an asynchronous nor self-paced course.

4. Would this requirement be applicable to over the phone interpretation providers who leverages over 20,000 individual linguists in order to execute this scope of work? If it is required, would we be able to have a member of our resource and training team attend these sessions in lieu of having our entire resource pool join?

DESE is releasing guidance that states that districts should contract with telephonic interpretation vendors who have staff members that are trained for the education setting. At this time, it is not a requirement that districts do so. For vendors with a large number of linguists, we suggest applying to become an approved provider of the courses through Pathway A and delivering the coursework to your employees on a rolling basis. You may consider assigning those who have completed the training as the first choice to support schools.

5. What are the target languages? We have interpreting resources for over hundred languages and would like to make sure the most needed languages are covered by trained interpreters first. So, how many languages are you looking to start the program with?

Vendors may apply to become an approved provider of the interpreter training courses. As an approved provider, we are looking for vendors to act as instructors to deliver the course materials. Once vendors are approved, we encourage providers to register participants of diverse language backgrounds. The instructor training course will offer options for how an instructor can support a participant who speaks a different language than themselves.

6. Is there any specific training budget per vendor or per interpreter / per hour? How could we bill you for this training program and for how many hours?

Approved vendors will be able to offer interpreter training courses and may offer the course at a cost to participants. There is no exchange of funding between DESE and the provider.

7. How many interpreters per language the fund allows us to train? What is the billing procedure?

Approved vendors may offer any number of interpreter training sessions. DESE recommends that vendors enroll a maximum of 20 participants in each training.

8. Is any precise time during which an interpreter must complete the training?

At this time, it is not required that interpreters complete this training. DESE recommends that districts and schools hire interpreters or partner with organizations that can provide interpreters who have been trained in the education setting.

9. How to become an approved provider for this course? And who is the provider- the interpreter for specific language or the agency who can train interpreters?

Vendors may apply to become an approved provider through the posted BID on COMMBUYS. Through a partner, DESE will train instructors who are approved through Pathway A.

10. If we, interpreting service, choose to Pathway A, is this training only available in person or also remotely via zoom, etc.?

The Instructor Training for Pathway A is delivered virtually.

11. How is Pathway A training scheduled? Daily, weekly?

Pathway A training is a fifteen (15) hour training delivered over multiple days. Currently, it is offered twice per year. The frequency may change depending on vendor demand.

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