Brief Description: Requiring standards for educational interpreters for students who are deaf or hard-of-hearing.

Sponsors: Senators Fraser, Oke, Fairley, Deccio, Berkey, McAuliffe, Keiser, Kline, Regala, Honeyford, Thibaudeau, Mulliken, Pridemore, Rockefeller, Delvin, Rasmussen and Kohl-Welles.

Hearing Date: 2/20/06

Staff: Sarah Ream (786-7303).

Background:

Under federal and state law, school districts must provide a free and appropriate education to children, who due to a disability, need special education and related services. "Special education" means specially designed instruction to meet the unique needs of a child with a disability. "Related services" includes supportive services that help the child benefit from special education. In some circumstances, this means that school districts must provide educational sign language/oral interpreters for deaf or hard-of-hearing students. According to the Office of the Superintendent of Public Instruction, there are approximately 200 deaf or hard-of-hearing students currently enrolled in Washington's public K-12 schools.

Currently, Washington law does not require that educational interpreters be certified or meet
standardized qualifications or competencies. The National Association of the Deaf and the Registry for Interpreters for the Deaf offer a national certification that may be obtained on a voluntary basis; however, such certification is not required for Washington educational interpreters. Likewise, the Washington Office for the Deaf and Hard of Hearing maintains a registry of interpreters, but registration as an interpreter is not required for a person to work as an educational interpreter.

Many colleges and universities provide some courses in American Sign Language. However, there are only four programs in Washington that provide a comprehensive sign language interpreter training program. These are: Seattle Central Community College, Spokane Falls Community College, Wenatchee Valley Community College, and the American Sign Language and Interpreting School of Seattle. Wenatchee Valley Community College is the only school in Washington with a program specifically designed to train educational sign language interpreters.

Summary of Bill:

To the extent funds are appropriated, the Superintendent of Public Instruction (SPI) must develop standards for educational interpreters for deaf and hard-of-hearing students. These standards must focus on the specific skills and knowledge necessary to serve the communication needs of students.

In developing the standards, the SPI must convene an advisory committee of representatives of nationally certificated educational interpreters, tactile interpreters, interpreter educators, school district coordinators of deaf programs, leaders in the deaf community, and parents of deaf children.

The SPI must report to the Legislature's education committees and recommend an implementation schedule of the standards developed by the SPI. The SPI must obtain
formal legislative approval before implementing any standards for educational interpreters.

Appropriation: None.

Fiscal Note: Available.

Effective Date: The bill takes effect 90 days after adjournment of session in which bill is passed.