An Act ensuring language readiness in deaf, deafblind, and hard-of-hearing children entering kindergarten
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Progress
Where this bill stands in the legislative process.
- Introduced
- Passed House
- Passed Senate
- To Governor
- Became Law
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
Bill text
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Sponsors
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2 on record
Primary sponsor
Cosponsor
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