What's happening
This bill requires certain New York school districts to add American Sign Language to their curriculum, based on student population criteria.
Why it matters
Increases access and inclusivity. By requiring schools in larger districts to offer American Sign Language (ASL), the bill promotes greater inclusion of deaf and hard-of-hearing students and supports broader communication accessibility for all students.
Establishes clear thresholds. The law sets specific student population criteria, ensuring that ASL is introduced first in areas with the greatest need and highest student populations, potentially maximizing impact where it can benefit the most people.
Elevates ASL as an academic subject. The bill mandates that ASL instruction meets the same quality standards as other foreign language offerings, which could help legitimize ASL as a valuable language skill and increase its academic rigor.
Mandates resource allocation and support. Schools required to offer ASL must provide the necessary facilities, materials, and curriculum aids, which may drive investments in teacher training and educational resources specific to ASL.
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Who cares
Headline styles
Add Sign Language in Schools
Plain English, a few words. Used as the page title.
Sponsors
No co-sponsors yet.
History
- Referred to education
Full text
2 pagesUnderlined is new[Struck] is removedOfficial text on nysenate.gov ↗
STATE OF NEW YORK
10409
IN ASSEMBLY
April 19, 2018
Introduced by M. of A. BARNWELL -- read once and referred to the Committee on Education
AN ACT to amend the education law, in relation to requiring certain school districts add American sign language to their curriculum
The People of the State of New York, represented in Senate and Assembly, do enact as follows:
Section 1. The education law is amended by adding a new section 817 to read as follows:
§ 817. American sign language. 1. Certain schools, as designated by the commissioner under the requirements as stated in subdivision two of this section, shall include American sign language in their curriculum.
2. The commissioner shall determine which schools will integrate American sign language into their respective curriculum based on the following criteria:
a. in a county with a minimum total of fifteen thousand students enrolled full time, at least one school district shall be designated by the commissioner to incorporate American sign language into their curriculum. This school district must have one elementary school, one middle school and one high school within the chosen district.
b. in a county with a minimum total of fifty thousand students enrolled full time, at least two school districts shall be designated by the commissioner to incorporate American sign language into their curriculum in at least one elementary school, one middle school and one high school within each of the chosen districts.
c. in a county with a minimum total of one hundred thousand students enrolled full time, at least three school districts shall be designated by the commissioner to incorporate American sign language into their curriculum in at least one elementary school, one middle school and one high school within each of the chosen districts.
d. in a city with a minimum total of one million students enrolled full time, any school district with a minimum total of seventy-five students with a hearing disability shall be designated by the commissioner to incorporate American sign language into their curriculum in at
EXPLANATION--Matter in italics (underscored) is new; matter in brackets
[ ] is old law to be omitted.
LBD14809-01-8
A. 10409 2
least one elementary school, one middle school and one high school within said district.
3. The commissioner may prescribe regulations governing such American sign language courses which shall include instruction in American sign language. Such regulations shall not prescribe a course of study in American sign language which sets forth standards for instruction of a lesser quality than that of any other non-English language.
4. School authorities required to offer such course shall provide the needed facilities, time and place for the instruction set forth herein and shall provide learning aids and curriculum resource materials to support such course of study.
§ 2. This act shall take effect immediately and shall apply to the school year which commences on or after July first next succeeding the date on which it shall have become a law. The commissioner of education shall promulgate such regulations as shall be necessary to implement the provisions of this act not later than 30 days after such effective date.
Reflowed for reading: line numbers and page breaks removed. Cite the official text.
Summaries, headlines and scores are AI-generated from the official bill text. How we score bills. Source: NYS Open Legislation.