FL H0461

Amends Florida Statutes section 1003.55 to require individual education plan (IEP) teams for deaf or hard-of-hearing students to consider the student's language and communication needs, opportunities for direct communication with peers and professionals in their language mode, and full range of academic needs.

Requires the Department of Education to develop a model communication plan for use in creating IEPs for deaf or hard-of-hearing students in coordination with the Florida School for the Deaf and the Blind and input from education stakeholders including the auditory oral community.

Mandates the model communication plan be adopted by rule by the State Board of Education and made available online to all school districts no later than December 31, 2013.

Requires the Department of Education to provide technical assistance to school districts for implementing the model communication plan.

Effective date: July 1, 2013.