FL H0705

State Board of Education must adopt rules establishing standards for educational interpreters, including written and performance assessments offered by a national organization of professional sign language interpreters and transliterators.

Educational interpreters are defined as individuals who facilitate direct instruction and communication between deaf or hard of hearing students and their peers as designated in each student's individual education plan or 504 accommodation plan.

Beginning July 1, 2017, school districts must notify parents in writing if an interpreter assigned to their student does not meet the state-established standards.

School districts must report to the Department of Education for publication on its website the total number of interpreters in the district and how many meet the established standards.

Act takes effect July 1, 2016.