Language access

Language Access Plan

The Anoka-Hennepin School District Language Access Plan provides a blueprint for bringing the district into compliance with state and federal language access requirements, including how the district will increase its capacity to address language service and resource needs identified in its self-assessment.  

There are more than 178 different languages spoken in the homes of Anoka-Hennepin students. The top home languages are Hmong, Spanish, Oromo, Somali, Arabic, Vietnamese, Russian, Swahili, French, and Ukrainian. 

The Language Access Plan aims to remove language barriers for students and families to maximize involvement in education. The ultimate goal of the plan is to ensure those who need to communicate in a language other than English are able to do so in real time, similar to their English speaking counterparts.

Purpose and authority

Anoka-Hennepin School District language access plan aligns with Minn. Stat. 123B.232 and TitleVI of the Civil Rights Act of 1964, which requires school districts to effectively assist students and adults who communicate in a language other than English. The plan provides a roadmap that will help staff navigate the process of setting deadlines, priorities, and identifying responsible personnel for policy and procedures development: 

• Hire, contract, assess, and ensure quality control of language assistance services; Provide notice of services;
• Provide training of staff; and
• Conduct ongoing monitoring and evaluation