Agenda Item
c. Division of Student Services ~ Translations and Interpretation Services (Not to exceed $1,300,000)
Summary: Presented by: Dr. Norman C. Sauce III, Chief of Student Services, Division of Student Services
Request: It is requested that the Board of Education approve the purchase of professional translation and interpretation services from the following vendors in excess of $100,000.00 with a combined total not to exceed $1,300,000 for the following vendors:
ALTA Language Services
Language Line Services
LATN Language Solutions
Piedmont Global Language Service
Real Time Translation
SeSo, Inc.
Translation Station, Inc.
Zab Translation Solutions
Why: Due to combined spending from all schools and centers serving parents and students whose primary home language is other than English (PHLOTEs), the total cost of translation and interpretation services may exceed $100,000.00 from one or more of the service providers.
Details: The DeKalb County School District, as a local educational agency (LEA) receiving federal grants, including the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA) grants, has a legal obligation to maintain meaningful communication with parents and students who may not have English as their primary language. The Office for Civil Rights (OCR) and IDEA mandate that parental notices and communication must be in a language that the parents or guardians can understand. Services from approved agencies are included in the district’s agreement with the OCR to provide language support services to families and students who speak other languages. Additionally, interpretation services are required during Individualized Education Program (IEP) meetings.
The continuous increase in families and students who speak other languages has resulted in a higher demand for translation and interpretation services. Communication with the parents and guardians of these students is crucial for their academic performance. The DeKalb County School District currently serves over 28,306 students whose primary home language is other than English (PHLOTEs). The significant number of languages and dialects, 178, spoken by our community requires the use of several resources to ensure effective communication with all students and parents. Interpretation and translation services to communicate with students and parents are necessary to ensure access to all our services and programs.
According to DJE III(C)(4), multiple vendors are used based on professional ability to provide translation/interpretation services in the requested languages district-wide for all schools.
Financial impact: The Financial Impact to the general funds for the school year 2025-2026 will not exceed the amount of $1,300,000.
Department of English Learners Charge Code:
100.2100 530000.07711.7130.9990.6015.094.0000 ($805.000)
Department of Exceptional Education Charge Code: 100.1000.530000.00011.7340.2021.8010.094.0000($400,000)
100.1000.530000.22711.7320.9990.8010.094.0000($50,000)
Contact: Presented by: Dr. Norman C. Sauce III, Chief of Student Services, Division of Student Services
Dr. Evelyn Hall, Executive Director of English Learners Department, Division of Student Services, 678-676-6603
Mrs. Kiana King, Executive Director, Exceptional Education, Division of Student Services, 678-676-61885
Effective: July 14, 2025- July 13, 2026
Status: Approved by the Office of Legal Affairs
INTERPRETING S E RV IC E S
Professional Interpreting Services
AVAILABLE AROUND THE CLOCK
ALTA Language Services is an
industry-leading language service
company with ISO 9001:2015 certifi-
cation, ensuring high-quality
language solutions and excellent
customer service.
We have over 30 years of interpreta-
tion experience in professional and
technical fields including medical,
legal, business meetings and confer-
ences. With a network of 2500+
certified linguists, we provide both
consecutive and simultaneous
interpretation services in person.
For longer assignments, on-site Assignments are always matched to
With advance notice, our interpreters interpreters are more effective and a highly-skilled interpreter with the
are available to come to your location offer a better value. For shorter or appropriate industry background/ex-
for face-to-face interpreting, international assignments, perience needed to execute the
anywhere in the U.S. Pre-scheduling Over-the-Phone Interpreting and project accurately.
is required in most regions; however, Video Remote Interpreting services
we can supply an interpreter with last are useful resources.
-minute notice in some areas.
Face-to-Face Interpreters ALTA’s mission is to
ALTA offers two types of in-person presentations. The interpreters provide complete,
interpreters: consecutive or simulta- typically work in pairs, alongside
outstanding, and
neous. A consecutive interpreter is rental equipment. In instances where
one who interprets directly after the equipment is required, ALTA can cost-effective interpretation
speaker(s) take a short break provide complete and portable
services in whatever
between sentences. interpretation equipment systems.
Simultaneous interpreters interpret at Our complete interpretation equip- languages or fields of
the same time as the presenter(s), ment package includes: interpreta- specialization our clients
without pausing. Simultaneous tion booths, transmitters, consoles,
interpretation is often used during receivers, headsets, and more. require.
multilingual conferences and large
Comprehensive Translation, Interpretation, Language Testing, and Language Training Solutions
On-Demand Live Phone Interpreters
Interpretation
Equipment Rentals in 200+ Languages
For conferences or meetings in a Our live phone interpreters enable After creating an account with ALTA,
fixed location, ALTA’s interpretation communication between individuals you’ll have around-the-clock access
equipment is available as a complete who don't share a common to our phone interpreters. We'll
interpretation system, which include language, whether that be English, connect you to experienced inter-
equipment for the presenters, Spanish, Chinese, Korean, or Arabic. preters with the highest ratings in
interpreters, and audience members. Choosing telephonic interpreters is client satisfaction.
ideal for shorter assignments and for
Our on-site technicians are responsi- ALTA’s telephonic interpreters can
assignments that need interpretation
ble for setting up the equipment, benefit a variety of client require-
for an extensive list of languages. By
testing it, and monitoring it through- ments, as we offer three unique
using ALTA's over-the-phone inter-
out the duration of the meeting or over-the-phone interpreting
pretation (OPI) services, you'll gain
event. Our on-site technicians are packages: Monthly Membership,
instant telephone access to more
located throughout the U.S., provid- Pre-scheduled Telephone Call, and
than 4,000 interpreters in more than
ing you with a premium service at a On-Demand Request.
200 languages within seconds.
low rate.
ALTA’s portable system is a good
alternative for smaller meetings that
do not require traditional interpreta-
tion equipment, or where smaller
budgets need to be accommodated.
Our portable system offers an
optional wireless sound feed, which
can amplify the sound for the inter-
preters.
Video Remote
Interpreting (VRI)
ALTA's Video Remote Interpreting
(VRI) service connects those who are
Deaf and Hard-of-Hearing to a
live-online interpreter instantly using
a specially-designed application
available on all devices. Our platform Contact us today!
is available for use 24/7/365, giving ALTA Language Services
our clients expanded access to
3355 Lenox Road, Suite 510
professional ASL interpreters in
Atlanta, GA 30326
areas where on-site interpreters may
be unavailable. We can provide
specialized ASL interpreters in Phone: 404.920.3860
various fields such as medical, legal, Email: interpretation@altalang.com
and technical, as well as interpreters www.altalang.com/interpretation-services
for personal day-to-day use.
IN-PERSON / VIRTUAL INTERPRETING PRICING
Price Per Hour Price Per Hour
Language Monday – Friday Weekends and
8:00 AM to 5:00 PM Holidays
Regular: $60.00 Regular: $65.00
Spanish
Last minute (*): $65.00 Last minute (*): $70.00
Amharic, Arabic, French,
Japanese, Korean, Mandarin, Regular: $70.00 Regular: $75.00
Portuguese, Russian, Tigrinya, Last minute (*): $75.00 Last minute (*): $80.00
Vietnamese
(*) When the Company provides ALTA less than twenty-four (24) hours' notice for a new appointment.
(**) Company shall reimburse ALTA for travel fees at the current federal rate per mile for any in-person appointment.
Assignments that require more than two hours travel time, round trip, will be billed at an additional travel fee of $70/hour.
(***) Recording fee of $100/flat will apply to any assignment that requires recording an interpreter.
(****) Virtual services—including scheduled phone and video sessions (via platforms such as Teams, Zoom, etc.)—are billed
at the same hourly rate as in-person services, with a one-hour minimum or the full duration if it exceeds one hour.
MONTHLY OVER-THE-PHONE INTERPRETING (OPI) PRICING*
Minutes used per month Rate (Spanish) Rate (All other languages)
1 min to 2,000 mins $1.65/minute $1.75/minute
2,000 to 5,000 mins $1.58/minute $1.68/minute
(*) Rate for all on-demand calls placed on the Company's dedicated access code will be billed at a per minute rate. A
minimum of $150.00 applies to all monthly invoices, which will be credited towards the first 1-91 minutes used.
(**) 1-Hour minimum will apply to any scheduled over-the-phone assignment.
(***) Recording fee of $100/flat will apply to any scheduled telephonic assignment that requires recording an interpreter.
ALTA Language Services, Inc. 3355 Lenox Rd NE, Suite 450 • Atlanta, GA 30326
Tel: 1.404.920.3800 • Fax: 1.404.920.3801 • www.altalang.com