HI HB1780

Requires the Executive Office on Early Learning to select language developmental milestones from existing standardized norms and develop a parent resource for tracking deaf and hearing-impaired children's language acquisition from birth to age five in American Sign Language and/or English.

Mandates the Executive Office select existing tools and assessments for educators to measure language and literacy development of deaf and hearing-impaired children, for use in individualized family service plans and individualized education programs.

Establishes a 13-member ad hoc advisory committee comprised primarily of deaf or hearing-impaired individuals in education, including parents, teachers, researchers, and specialists representing both American Sign Language and spoken English approaches.

Requires the executive office to disseminate materials and training to parents and schools, and to produce annual reports starting July 31, 2018, on language and literacy development outcomes for deaf and hearing-impaired children using federally-required performance data.

Provides an appropriation from general revenues for fiscal year 2016-2017 to establish milestones and develop the parent resource and educator tools.