Joining TASK12

State departments of education interested in becoming part of the TASK12 multi-state community of practice are welcome to read about the project.

TASK12, as well as the collaboration with the other member states (currently Alaska, Alabama, Arkansas, Arizona, Georgia, Iowa, Kansas, Montana, Nebraska, New Mexico, Oklahoma, Oregon, Utah, Wyoming) will assist your efforts to address the requirements of the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act and No Child Left Behind legislation.

TASK12 will do the following:

• Provide access to the evaluation schedule for the entire TASK12 project via the TASK12 Website. K-12 interpreters can register through the website for the site of their choice.
• Administer on-site videotaping of K-12 interpreters' work using the Educational Interpreter Performance Assessment (EIPA) instrument. This is a video-stimuli assessment of interpreting skills, voice-to-sign classroom, as well as sign-to-voice deaf/hard of hearing student communication. Up to 20 evaluations (video tapings) can be performed per weekend. Each member state decides how many tests are needed annually.
• Maintain contact and communication with local sites and contact persons for smooth local planning, site location directions, and administration of the EIPA.
• Provide the on-site administration of the EIPA. This will ensure that the EIPA is administered fairly, reliably, and with respect toward all who take the evaluation/assessment.
• Welcome interpreters living and working in TASK12 states to any of the other TASK12 state evaluation sites for the EIPA.
• Ensure that interpreters' work is sent to Boys Town National Research Hospital for evaluation by a qualified panel of experts (both deaf and hearing professionals).
• Ensure that the full diagnostic results are mailed to each candidate within 90 working days. This document becomes a Professional Development Plan for each interpreter regarding his or her demonstrated interpreting skills. In addition, a certificate showing the level of skill will be mailed to each candidate showing their EIPA score.
• Provide to the state (after all results are mailed) a comprehensive report with recommendations for training/education for the K-12 interpreters having been evaluated. This report is based specifically upon the performances of the candidates and provides a road map for training/education.
• Host one face-to-face TASK12 Board meeting annually for the Administration of the TASK12 Project and collaboration of its members within this community of practice. The TASK12 Board ListServ is available for communication 24/7. Conference calls of the TASK12 Board are scheduled as needed throughout the year.

Each State will do the following:

• Select one TASK12 Board member from the state department of education, representing the director of special education and the state, to attend TASK12 Board meetings, conference calls, and participate via the TASK12 ListServ and electronic mail.
• Provide receptive on-site locations for testing with appropriate TV and VCR equipment for evaluation. It is encouraged that one site be located at the state school for the deaf. A fee will be paid to the local site for its use.
• Provide reliable contact names at these sites for local assistance for the TASK12 administration of the evaluation. Local proctors who assist with the TASK12 process will be trained and paid a fee for their assistance.
• Participate, as needed, with the promotion and encouragement of skills training for K-12 interpreters in their state.

TASK12 Membership Cost

The cost of TASK12 is based upon a simple formula: The total number of students in K-12 education in your state multiplied by $0.03 (3 cents) per child plus $75.00 per test time. This expense includes everything listed above and the pledge to you that TASK12 services will be provided and administered under your direction and guidance. Financially, a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) is entered into between the center for Technical Assistance for Excellence in Special Education (TAESE) at Utah State University (the fiscal agent for the TASK12) and each TASK12 state department of education. This MOU is renewed annually.

TASK12 is a substantial community of practice, which serves as a model for others interested in serving special populations through collaboration and combined resources. I sincerely hope that you will allow the TASK12 to serve your state and look forward to your next step in the process of improving educational services to students who are deaf or hard of hearing attending your public schools.

When I can assist further, please contact the TASK12 office.

Sincerely,

Bernhardt Jones, Ed.D., CSC, Project Director
Training Assessment Systems for K-12 Educational Interpreters
330 West Clover Meadow
Kaysville, UT 84037
bern.jones@usu.edu
801.698.2508
801.528.3727 (fax)