Connecticut SB 312: AN ACT CONCERNING SCHOOL COUNSELORS.

Bill Text

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General Assembly Substitute Bill No. 312
February Session, 2026

AN ACT ESTABLISHING AN AMERICAN SIGN LANGUAGE
EDUCATION WORKING GROUP AND CONCERNING CURRICULUM
GUIDANCE FOR AMERICAN SIGN LANGUAGE INSTRUCTION.
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives in General
Assembly convened:

Section 1. (NEW) (Effective January 1, 2027) (a) The Department of 1
Education shall establish an American Sign Language education 2
working group that consists of (1) a representative from each of the 3
following: The Departments of Education and Aging and Disability 4
Services, the Labor Department, the Office of Higher Education, the 5
Connecticut Council of Language Teachers, the American School for the 6
Deaf and the Connecticut Association of the Deaf, and (2) at least one 7
American Sign Language instructor who teaches in a public school in 8
the state. 9
(b) The working group shall provide recommendations to the 10
Department of Education regarding the following: 11
(1) Curriculum guidance for American Sign Language instruction 12
that includes, but is not limited to, aligning such curriculum with 13
nationally recognized proficiency frameworks; 14
(2) Teacher certification standards based on standards established by 15
the American Sign Language Teachers Association and the American 16
Sign Language Proficiency Interview that include, at a minimum, (A) 17

Substitute Bill No. 312

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establishment of a proficiency benchmark, (B) recognition of an 18
alternative certification pathway for native American Sign Language 19
users and interpreters, and (C) reciprocity with American Sign 20
Language teaching certifications from other states; and 21
(3) Guidance to educator preparation programs in the state 22
concerning, but not limited to, the (A) expansion of American Sign 23
Language and interpretation education programs, (B) creation of 24
educational incentives, such as tuition support, credit enhancement or 25
alternative route programs, and (C) establishment of bridge, 26
endorsement or alternative programs for native American Sign 27
Language users and certified interpreters seeking teacher certification. 28
(c) Not later than January 1, 2028, and annually thereafter, the 29
Department of Education shall submit a progress report, in accordance 30
with the provisions of section 11-4a of the general statutes, to the joint 31
standing committee of the General Assembly having cognizance of 32
matters relating to education concerning the work of the American Sign 33
Language education working group. 34
Sec. 2. (NEW) (Effective July 1, 2026) Not later than July 1, 2030, the 35
Department of Education shall issue to each local and regional board of 36
education the guidance developed pursuant to subdivision (1) of 37
subsection (b) of section 1 of this act to ensure consistent 38
implementation of the American Sign Language portion of the world 39
languages curriculum required pursuant to section 10-16b of the general 40
statutes. 41
This act shall take effect as follows and shall amend the following
sections:

Section 1 January 1, 2027 New section
Sec. 2 July 1, 2026 New section

Statement of Legislative Commissioners:
In Section 1(a), "which shall consist" was changed to "that consists" and
in Section 1(b)(2), "includes, but is not limited to" was changed to
"include, at a minimum" for clarity.

Substitute Bill No. 312

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ED Joint Favorable Subst. C/R APP
APP Joint Favorable Subst.