PLUK News feed

EIPA 2012-2013 Video Conference Series DVD's

What:
The Montana Office of Public Instruction is happy to announce that a series of DVD Video Conferences and other interpreter training materials from Boys Town and Educational Interpreter Performance Assessment (EIPA) are now available to be checked-out by interpreters, teachers of the deaf and other people with interest in the education of the Deaf and Hard of Hearing.

How to borrow the DVDs:
The OPI library loans materials to other libraries and not to individual borrowers. To borrow the DVDs, please contact your local school or public library to request any of the titles below. The EIPA Video Conference series will be circulated as a set (4 DVDs) for each year. The interpreting series (2 DVDs) will be cataloged as elementary and secondary. Because OPI will be granting renewal credits and needs verification of circulation, the Resource Center will send a letter on OPI letterhead to the borrowing library with the DVD(s) verifying the DVD title(s) was checked out. The borrowing library will fill in the patron’s name and give the letter to the patron with the loaned DVD(s). It will be the patron’s responsibility to present the letter to OPI for Renewal Units (CEUs). The videos will be loaned on a “first-come, first-served” basis for a period of 2 weeks. Renewals after the two-week period will be granted if there is no waiting list.

Available DVD Titles:

    EIPA Video Conference DVD from November 17, 2012 - Techniques for comprehending fingerspelling and non-manual information.
    EIPA Video Conference DVD from January 12, 2013 - Language clarity techniques in discourse:  looking at the language expansion features.
    EIPA Video Conference DVD from March 2, 2013 - Ethical decision making:  what do I do now?
    EIPA Video Conference DVD from May 4, 2013 - Space & classifiers:  Enhancing your interpretations utilizing spatial organizational techniques and classifiers.
    Educational Interpreting Practice DVD:  elementary level
    Educational Interpreting Classroom Practice DVD: secondary level
    Interpreting for Students with Cochlear Implants
    Preparing to Take the EIPA Written Test
    Classroom Classifiers:  What’s the Best Classifier to Represent a Concept?
    Sign-to-Voice Interpreting: Working with a Variety of Child Signers

Borrowing the DVDs will be done on an individual basis.  However, interpreters in Montana can view them in groups, which could create great opportunities for interpreters to learn in the setting that better fits their individual learning styles and preferences. 

For information on how to request OPI Renewal Units after viewing the DVD, or if you have further questions or comments, please contact Francisco J. Román at 406.444-4426 or 888-231-9393 ext. 4426 (toll free) or e-mail: froman@mt.gov.

Educational Interpreter Performance Assessment (EIPA) Testing - Great Falls - Oct. 16, 2010

The annual administration of the Educational Interpreter Performance Assessment (EIPA) will be conducted in Montana on Saturday, October 16, on the MSDB Campus in Great Falls.  To register for the assessment please go to: http://www.usu.edu/taese/task12/EIPARegistration.cfm.

The OPI will pay the registration fee for interpreters working in Montana schools every other year until the interpreter attains a score of 3.5 or higher.  Interpreters wishing to have the OPI pay the registration fee should contact Frank Podobnik at fpodobnik@mt.gov for more information.

Beginning July 1, 2011, all educational interpreters employed in Montana schools must have an EIPA score of 3.5 or higher.  Those interpreters scoring between 2.5 and 3.4 can remain employed, but must have an educational plan in place to achieve the 3.5 standard within three years.

 

  10.55.718    ASSIGNMENT OF PERSONS PROVIDING SIGN LANGUAGE INTERPRETING FOR STUDENTS WHO ARE DEAF OR HARD OF HEARING

(1) Effective July 1, 2011, and not withstanding (3), no licensed or classified employee of any school district, cooperative, or contracted service provider shall be regularly assigned to provide educational sign language interpreting for a student(s) unless the employee has demonstrated skills and knowledge, at a 3.5 level or higher, on the Educational Interpreter Performance Assessment (EIPA) and passed the written portion of the Educational Interpreter Performance Assessment.

  (2) Substitute employees of any school district, cooperative, or contracted service provider temporarily assigned to provide educational sign language interpreting for a student(s) for a period longer than 35 consecutive teaching days shall meet the standard in (1).

(3) An employee who has not met the qualifications in (1), but who has demonstrated a competency level of 2.5 or higher on the EIPA or a score commensurate with a competency level of 2.5 or higher on the EIPA Pre-Hire Assessment, may be assigned to provide educational sign language interpreting services. Such individuals shall have three years, from date of initial assignment, or the effective date of this rule, to demonstrate competency as described in (1).

(4) The employing entity (school district, cooperative, or contracting service provider) is responsible for providing appropriate assignment of personnel (directly) and/or use of appropriate technologies.

(5) Employees who have met the requirements in (1) and who seek to remain eligible to work as educational sign language interpreters are responsible for documenting a completion of 12 clock hours of professional development and/or Office of Public Instruction renewal units per calendar year related to the improvement of educational interpreting, performance, and knowledge skills. Such individuals will provide documentation of completion to their employing school district, cooperative, or contracting agency.

  (6) For purposes of (5), approved providers of continuing educational opportunities shall include any entity approved by the Montana Office of Public Instruction or the Montana Board of Public Education.

  History: 20-2-121, MCA; IMP, 20-2-121, MCA; NEW, 2009 MAR p. 1659, Eff. 9/25/09.