External PD INFO: No-Cost Professional Learning Opportunity for Educational Interpreters Serving Arizona Students

Arizona schools continue to face the challenge of recruiting, developing, and retaining highly qualified educational interpreters for students who are deaf or hard of hearing. To support interpreter quality and student access, the Training for Interpreters in Public Schools (TIPS) course is being offered at no cost to eligible participants through the Utah State University Interpreter, Mentorship, Education, and Training (IMET) Program, in collaboration with participating state education agencies.

We encourage you to share this opportunity with educational interpreters in your district.

Why TIPS?
The TIPS course was specifically developed for educational interpreters working in K-12 settings and focuses on the specialized skills needed to effectively support student access to instruction. Over four months, participants engage in structured online learning centered on:

• Preparing for the Learning Journey
• Interpreting Educational Discourse
• Fingerspelling in the Classroom
• Discourse Mapping in Education

The program also includes a required one-day virtual training and offers RID CEUs upon request.

Program Highlights
✅ Fully online format
✅ No cost to participants
✅ RID CEUs available
✅ Designed specifically for K-12 educational interpreters
✅ Supported through the multi-state IMET/TASK12 partnership dedicated to improving educational interpreter skills and outcomes for deaf and hard-of-hearing students.

Course Information
Course Dates: February 6 - May 15, 2027
Application Deadline: January 5, 2027
Eligibility: Applicants must live or work in Arizona, Montana, Nebraska, North Dakota, Utah, or Wyoming. Preference may be given to candidates with an EIPA score between 3.0 and 3.9.

Beyond TIPS, the IMET Program provides a growing catalog of interpreter-focused professional learning opportunities and mentorship experiences designed to strengthen interpreting skills, increase confidence, and improve educational access for students who are deaf or hard of hearing. Arizona's partnership with IMET reflects our commitment to high-quality inclusive practices and ongoing professional growth for educational interpreters.

For additional information or application questions, contact the ADE ESS Academic Achievement and Inclusive Practices Team.

Thank you for your continued commitment to ensuring meaningful access and high-quality educational services for Arizona students.
IMET TIPS Flyer