HB 1623 - DIGEST

Requires the office of the superintendent of public instruction to: (1) Develop an application process and award grants to state universities, regional universities, the state college, and community and technical colleges that offer baccalaureate degrees to establish programs of study that prepare students to become educational interpreters and sign language interpreters; and

(2) Develop or expand a mentoring program for people employed as educational interpreters in public schools.

Requires the state center for childhood deafness and hearing loss and the office of the superintendent of public instruction to examine options for developing, expanding, supporting, and coordinating regionally delivered educational services in the full range of communication modalities for children who are deaf or hard of hearing.