SENATE BILL REPORT

SB 6635

BYSenators Patrick, Rasmussen and Thorsness

Clarifying educational requirements regarding sign language.

Senate Committee on Education

Senate Hearing Date(s):February 1, 1990

Majority Report:     Do pass as amended.

     Signed by Senators Bailey, Chairman; Lee, Vice Chairman; Anderson, Bender, Benitz, Craswell, Metcalf, Murray.

Senate Staff:Susan Mosborg (786-7439)

                February 2, 1990

AS REPORTED BY COMMITTEE ON EDUCATION, FEBRUARY 1, 1990

BACKGROUND:

Under current statute, sign language is considered a foreign language for the purpose of meeting any foreign language requirement for high school graduation, as established by the state or local school district, or for undergraduate admission to the state's four-year colleges and universities, as established by the state or institutions.  Current statute does not identify a particular sign language as meeting foreign language requirements for graduation or college entrance purposes.  American Sign Language (ASL) is generally recognized as a separate and complete language with its own unique grammar and syntax.  ASL is the language of the deaf culture, and major national and state organizations of the deaf promote its use. 

SUMMARY:

American Sign Language is specified as the type of sign language that will (1) meet any state or local district foreign language requirements for high school graduation, and (2) meet any state or institutional foreign language requirement for undergraduate admission to the state's four-year colleges and universities.

In establishing rules for the evaluation and certification of sign language instructors, it is the rules pertaining to American Sign Language instructors on which the State Board of Education shall consult with the National Association of the Deaf, "Sign Instructors Guidance Network" (S.I.G.N.) and the Washington State Association for the Deaf.

SUMMARY OF PROPOSED COMMITTEE AMENDMENT:

It is specified that the sign language which the State Board of Education develops teacher certification standards for is American Sign Language.

Appropriation:  none

Revenue:   none

Fiscal Note:    none requested

Senate Committee - Testified:   FOR:  G. Leon Curtis, Office of Deaf Services; Larry Petersen; John P. Evans, Special Education Advisory Council; Michael Izak, Washington State Association of the Deaf; Helen Gardner, Washington State Grange