Language Assistance Services → Language Line Telephone Interpretation Services
Language Line Telephone Interpretation Services
Language Line is a fee-for-service resource available to all MCPS personnel for interpretation needs. The Languages Assistance Services Unit (LASU) manages and monitors this service for MCPS. Language Line is only authorized for telephone interpretation services when other resources have been exhausted OR for short encounters (20 minutes or less).
If a parent calls an MCPS school or office or walks in and says “I speak [language],” staff can use these step-by-step directions for reaching a Language Line interpreter
- Dial 1-800-874-9426.
- When cued, dial in the MCPS Client ID. If you do not have this number, you can obtain it from your principal director, or administrative secretary.
- When asked for your personal code, dial in your employee ID number plus the last two digits of your distribution location number. Omit any leading zeroes for the employee ID number. Example
- If the parent is not already holding for this call, provide their phone number to the Language Line operator, who will connect you for an additional fee to MCPS.
- If you are asked to do so, briefly explain the nature of the call to the interpreter.
Frequently Asked Questions About Language Line
Can parents use Language Line?
Because Language Line is a fee-for-use service, access is restricted to MCPS personnel. We hope staff will become familiar enough with this resource that any parent need only call or come in and say "I speak [Language]," and the staff member answering the phone will immediately call Language Line to obtain an interpreter.
I provided the last two digits of my location, but was told that they were wrong. What happened?
Because some employees have several locations from which they report their hours and each employee can have only one access code, the "Distribution Location" code from your e-paystub is used. This provides an objective source for your location which you can easily access on line if you need to do so. If you are told that your distribution location code is wrong, check your e-paystub. Even employees with a single work location may have a distibution location that is different because of the way their positions are funded.
When is Language Line available?
Language Line is available 24 hours a day, seven days a week. If you need to call a parent from home in the evening or early morning, you can call from home. Your personal code will allow us to verify that the call was made by authorized personnel.
I am using my employee ID as part of my personal code. What about identity theft?
- Your presonal code is dialed into a computer system. If you fail to dial a recognizable code three times, you will be asked to give your information to a human operator. Even then, as soon as the information matches a record and verifies that you are an authorized user, the information disappears from the operator's screen.
- The vice-president of Language Line has signed a nondisclosure agreement with MCPS.
- Language Line personnel are always dealing with confidential, secure information including information protected under various federal laws.
- If you do have to provide your employee id to the operator, you have no need to provide your name; Language Line does not receive information that links your personal code to your name. You need only give your name to the interpreter, not the operator, so that the interpreter can introduce you to the parent you are calling.
Will my school or office be charged for this service?
Language Line fees are paid centrally by MCPS. In any cases of abuse of the Language Line or habitual misuse (such as using the Language Line for scheduled meetings without first requesting interpretation services from the LASU), the school or office may be billed for the charges in question.