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After sustained public pressure, EPISD details language‑access tools and next steps
Summary
Following weeks of community requests, district communications staff described web/app translation, a family help desk, live interpretation at major events and campus support measures; trustees asked staff to draft administrative regulations to formalize language‑access practices.
After more than an hour of public comment calling for consistent translation and interpretation, El Paso ISD communications staff on April 21 outlined the district’s current language‑access tools and next steps to expand services.
Chief Communications Officer Liz Rodriguez said the district uses website and app translation, an alert system that can translate messages in real time to families’ preferred languages and a newly launched family help desk. “Language should never be a barrier to any student or any family who wants to engage with the district,” Rodriguez said, describing website translation toggles (Google Translate across many pages), in‑app language detection and translated alert messages.
Staff reported usage metrics: about 1.1 million unique website visits since December 2025 and roughly 48,000 translated Spanish browser sessions. The family help desk received more than 120 calls during a recent registration period, of which roughly 12% were in Spanish; staff also reported tickets and email volumes for the service.
Speakers at the public forum had urged stronger campus‑level consistency and warned against relying on students to interpret for their families. Several trustees asked staff to explore technology options for live translation and to consider training opportunities so teachers can better communicate with families. Trustee Quer urged that translation not be the responsibility of parents or children and asked staff to propose practicable tools and device options.
Staff recommended a cultural shift toward anticipating translation needs during materials production and said they will explore additional live‑interpretation devices, improve campus implementation and provide an administrative regulation for board review to codify consistent district practices. Dr. Lusk said staff would return with proposed procedures and reported that the district would not add new central‑office headcount specifically for this work but would formalize responsibilities within existing teams.
Next steps: Trustees asked staff to draft administrative regulations to define how translation and interpretation are requested and delivered at district events and campus activities; the communications team will return with recommended processes, technology options and timelines.
