Court Interpreter Education and Training Services for the California Court Interpreter Workforce Pilot Program

Description

The Judicial Council of California (“Judicial Council”) is the policymaking body of the California court system, which includes 58 superior courts, the courts of appeal, and the Supreme Court. Under the authority of the state’s Constitution and with the leadership of the Chief Justice of the California Supreme Court, the Judicial Council is responsible for ensuring the fair, impartial, and consistent administration of justice. The Judicial Council promulgates rules and procedures for court administration, develops and implements policies for the judicial branch, and makes recommendations annually to the Governor and the Legislature. Judicial Council staff assist the Judicial Council with implementing policies and supporting court operations.

Within the Judicial Council is Leadership Support Services, which houses the Language Access Services Program (“LASP”). LASP comprises the Court Interpreters Program (“CIP”) unit and the Language Access Implementation (“LAI”) unit. LAI works on making the courts more language accessible, and CIP works on court interpreter matters such as interpreter testing and credentialing.

California is currently experiencing a shortage of credentialed court interpreters in the state’s most frequently interpreted languages. To address this issue, the 2023 Budget Act created the California Court Interpreter Workforce Pilot Program (“Pilot Program”) and dedicated $6.8 million to the program. The five-year Pilot Program started July 1, 2024, and concludes June 30, 2029.

The purpose of this RFP is for the Judicial Council to enter into Agreement(s) with highly qualified Proposer(s) who currently provide court interpreter education and training services and who can provide classes/programs to Participants who are enrolled in the Pilot Program.

Under the Agreement(s), selected Proposer(s) will provide education and training services for active Pilot Program participants (“Participants”) who are seeking to become California credentialed court interpreters.

Questions regarding this RFP must be directed to solicitations@jud.ca.gov and must be received no later than 1:00 PM, Pacific Time, October 5, 2026. 

Proposals must be received no later than 1:00 PM, Pacific Time, November 2, 2026.

Further details regarding the solicitation are set forth in RFP No. RFP-LSS-2026-02-LP and related documents provided below.