On August 11, 2000, the
President signed Executive Order 13166, "Improving Access to Services for Persons with Limited English Proficiency" (PDF). The Executive Order requires Federal
agencies to examine the services they provide, identify any need for services to those
with limited English proficiency (LEP), and develop and implement a system to provide
those services so LEP persons can have meaningful access to them. It is expected
that agency plans will provide for such meaningful access consistent with, and without
unduly burdening, the fundamental mission of the agency. The Executive Order also
requires that the Federal agencies work to ensure that recipients of Federal financial
assistance provide meaningful access to their LEP applicants and beneficiaries.
To assist Federal agencies in carrying out these responsibilities, the U.S. Department of Justice has issued a Policy Guidance Document, "Enforcement of Title VI of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 - National Origin Discrimination Against Persons With Limited English Proficiency" (2002 LEP Guidance). This LEP Guidance sets forth the compliance standards that recipients of Federal financial assistance must follow to ensure that their programs and activities normally provided in English are accessible to LEP persons and thus do not discriminate on the basis of national origin in violation of Title VI's prohibition against national origin discrimination.
| Executive Order 13166 Resources |
Memorandum to Federal Agencies from Attorney General Eric Holder Reaffirming the Mandates of Executive Order 13166 - February 17, 2011
Overview of Executive Order 13166, Federal Coordination and Compliance Section, Civil Rights Division, U.S. Department of Justice
Commonly
Asked Questions and Answers Regarding Executive Order 13166 (PDF)
Common Language Access Questions, Technical Assistance, and Guidance for Federally Conducted and Federally Assisted Programs (PDF), August 15, 2011
Language Access Assessment and Planning Tool for Federally Conducted and Federally Assisted Programs (PDF), May 9, 2011, Federal Coordination and Compliance Section, Civil Rights Division, U.S. Department of Justice
Assistant Attorney General Boyd letter to recipients of DOJ assistance offering assistance in implementing LEP guidance, December 13, 2002
Language Access Guidance Letter to State Courts from Assistant Attorney General Thomas E. Perez, August 17, 2010
Language Access Obligations under Executive Order 13166 Memorandum to Heads and Department Components from Attorney General Eric Holder - June 28, 2010
Assistant Attorney General Boyd letter to recipients of DOJ assistance offering assistance in implementing LEP guidance, December 13, 2002
Assistant Attorney General Boyd Memorandum to Heads of Federal Agencies, General Counsels, and Civil Rights Directors concerning Tools to Ensure Implementation and Understanding of Executive Order 13166, November 12, 2002
Assistant Attorney General Boyd Memorandum to Heads of Federal
Agencies, General Counsels, and Civil Rights Directors regarding Executive Order 13166, July 8, 2002
Department of Justice Final Guidance to Federal Financial Assistance Recipients Regarding
Title VI Prohibition Against National Origin Discrimination Affecting Limited English Proficient Persons, June 18, 2002
Assistant Attorney General Boyd Memorandum to Heads of Federal Grants Agencies, General Counsels and Civil Rights Directors on Executive Order 13166, January 11, 2002
Assistant Attorney General Boyd Memorandum on Executive Order
13166, October 26, 2001