Resources
Practical tools, guides, and learning materials to support families, educators, and communities in building equitable, language-accessible schools.
Explore All Resources ↓What You Will Find Here
Five resource categories — each designed to be immediately useful whether you are a family navigating the system or an educator building more equitable practices.
Downloadable Family Guides
Plain-language guides written for multilingual families available in Somali and English.
For Families
Understanding the IEP Process
A step-by-step guide explaining what an IEP is, who is on the team, what your rights are as a parent, and how to prepare for and participate in IEP meetings. Available in Somali and English.
The EL Identification & Services Process
Explains how schools identify English Learners, what services your child is entitled to, how to request an interpreter, and what to do if you disagree with a placement decision.
Navigating the School System: A Family Orientation Guide
Designed for new-to-country families. Covers K–12 structure, school roles (teacher, counselor, principal, social worker), enrollment steps, grading, attendance, and how to communicate with your child’s school.
Your Rights as a Parent: Language Access & Special Education
A plain-language summary of your legal rights under IDEA, Section 504, Title III, and Minnesota Statute 123B.32. Includes a script for requesting an interpreter and a complaint process overview.
Multilingual VideosSchool Roles & Rights — In Your Language
Short, accessible videos explaining how U.S. schools work — recorded in Somali and English. Ideal for sharing with families at enrollment, orientation events, or parent nights.
Educator Toolkits
Practical, research-grounded toolkits for educators building more equitable family and community engagement practices in their schools and districts.
For EducatorsFACE Model Implementation Toolkit
A complete guide to implementing the 7 essential elements of the FACE Model in your school. Includes self-assessment tools, guiding questions, and a 90-day action planning template.
Request This Toolkit →Language Access Compliance Toolkit for Schools
Covers Minnesota Statute 123B.32 and federal Title VI requirements. Includes a compliance audit checklist, Language Access Plan template, interpreter roster form, and staff training outline.
Request This Toolkit →Culturally Responsive Family Engagement Toolkit
Grounded in Zaretta Hammond’s Culturally Responsive Teaching framework and the FACE Model. Includes staff reflection activities, community asset mapping, and a guide to moving from outreach to partnership.
Request This Toolkit →Supporting Multilingual Learners with Disabilities: An Educator Guide
Addresses the intersection of EL identification and special education. Covers referral processes, evaluation considerations, IEP goal writing for ELs, and meaningful family communication for dually identified students.
Request This Toolkit →Ready-to-Use Forms, Plans & Protocols
Download, customize, and use these templates directly in your school or district. All templates are editable and designed to be adapted to your community’s specific context.
Family Engagement Action Plan Template
A 5-step planning template for schools to build a sustainable, equity-centered Family Engagement Action Plan. Includes goal-setting, strategy selection, timeline, and evaluation indicators.
Request Template →Interpreter Protocol Checklist
A pre/during/post meeting checklist for schools using interpreters at IEP, 504, enrollment, or family conference meetings. Covers briefing, role clarity, documentation, and debrief steps.
Request Template →Language Access Self-Audit Checklist
A 30-item audit tool for schools and districts to assess their current language access practices across communications, meetings, enrollment, and special education.
Request Template →Family Engagement Stages of Development Self-Assessment
Based on the Minnesota Family and Community Engagement Stages of Development Tool. Helps school teams identify where they are across 7 elements and plan next steps toward becoming a Partnership School.
Request Template →Webinars & Recordings Archive
Missed a live session? Access recordings of past webinars, workshops, and professional development sessions. New recordings are added after each event.
For EveryoneLanguage Access 101 for Educators
Recording AvailableAn overview of Minnesota’s language access law (123B.32), federal Title VI requirements, and practical steps for compliance. 60 minutes. Audience: School staff and administrators.
Request Access →From Outreach to Partnership: Rethinking Family Engagement
Recording AvailableExplores the difference between compliance-based outreach and genuine family partnership using the FACE Model and Stages of Development framework. 75 minutes. Audience: District and school leaders.
Request Access →Supporting Dually Identified Students: EL & IEP Intersection
Coming SoonAddresses how to identify, evaluate, and serve students who are both English Learners and have disabilities. Covers legal rights, IEP goal writing, and family communication. Audience: Special education and EL staff.
Get Notified →Can’t Find What You Need?
We are continuously adding new resources based on what families and educators tell us they need most. If you are looking for something specific a guide in a particular language, a template for a specific situation, or a recording of a past event — reach out and we will do our best to help.
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