Education
Child counts for all categorical disabilities
The data that the state tracks on children with disabilities helps educators and policymakers better serve those children. Current data reporting policies mean that children who have more than one disability may be missing from the Deaf/Hard of Hearing or DeafBlind categories. This would help make sure these categories show a true count of children.
Kindergarten fall assessment requirements
Gather information and address DDBHH needs for the new kindergarten assessment requirements scheduled to take effect in 2027.
Language assessment for ages 0-5 standardization
Seek ways to make sure that deaf, deafblind, and hard of hearing children ages 0-5 are being assessed for language milestones.
READ Act amendments
Continue carrying out recommendations from the Deaf, DeafBlind, and Hard of Hearing (DDBHH) Working Group to make sure requirements and resources for raising the literacy level of students include DDBHH students.
School safety plans
Strengthen language on schools' responsibility to understand and plan for what is needed to keep students with disabilities as safe as other students during emergencies.
HF3485 (Hicks, Kraft)
SF3717 (Mann)
Special education equitable metrics
The state is required to report progress on goals for students with disabilities. Currently, these goals aim to reduce the number of students in separate settings such as deaf schools or deaf programs. We want language that does not penalize districts for placing children in a language-rich environment.
Support various DDBHH educational settings
Multiple ongoing initiatives and more details to come.
