H 511
An Act ensuring language readiness in deaf, deafblind, and hard-of-hearing children entering kindergarten
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Sign in to take action- Introduced
- Passed House
- Passed Senate
- To Governor
- Became Law
Bill overview
This bill aims to improve the language readiness of deaf, deafblind, and hard-of-hearing children before they begin kindergarten in Massachusetts. It seeks to ensure these students have the foundational language skills necessary for success in school. The bill recognizes the unique challenges faced by these children and seeks to address them proactively. By focusing on language readiness, the legislation intends to support equitable educational outcomes for all students.
Key provisions
- Requires the Department of Elementary and Secondary Education to develop guidelines for assessing and supporting the language readiness of deaf, deafblind, and hard-of-hearing children.
- Encourages collaboration between schools, families, and specialized service providers to foster language development.
- Promotes the use of American Sign Language (ASL) and other communication methods in early childhood education.
- Supports the training of educators on best practices for supporting these students' language needs.
- Establishes a process for monitoring and evaluating the effectiveness of language readiness initiatives.
Who is affected
- Deaf children
- Deafblind children
- Hard-of-hearing children
- Parents of deaf, deafblind, and hard-of-hearing children
- Educators in Massachusetts
Notable changes
- Focuses specifically on language readiness, building upon existing support services.
Sponsors
Official sponsors from legislative records.
Primary sponsor
Brian M. Ashe
Cosponsor
Brian M. Ashe
Arguments in favor
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Bill H.511 194th (Current)
An Act ensuring language readiness in deaf, deafblind, and hard-of-hearing children entering kindergarten
By Representative Ashe of Longmeadow, a petition (accompanied by bill, House, No. 511) of Brian M. Ashe relative to the language readiness of deaf, deafblind, and hard-of-hearing children entering kindergarten. Education.
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Bill Information
Bill Information
Presenter: Brian M. Ashe Status: Referred to Joint Committee on Education
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Bill History Petitioners Hearing Attendance
Bill History
Displaying 5 actions for Bill H.511
| Date | Branch | Action |
| 2/27/2025 | House | Referred to the committee on Education |
| 2/27/2025 | Senate | Senate concurred |
| 11/10/2025 | Joint | Hearing scheduled for 11/18/2025 from 01:00 PM-05:00 PM in B-1 |
| 11/18/2025 | Joint | Hearing rescheduled to 11/18/2025 from 01:00 PM-03:25 PM in B-1 and Virtual Hearing updated to New End Time |
| 2/17/2026 | House | Reporting date extended to Friday, March 18, 2026 |
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