MD SB502

Establishes the Language Acquisition Tracking Program within the Maryland State Department of Education to assess and track language development of deaf or hard of hearing children under age 9 who have an IFSP, IEP, or Section 504 plan, at no cost to families

Creates a State Coordinator position requiring an advanced degree in early childhood or deaf education, proficiency in ASL and written English, and knowledge of hearing technologies; the coordinator should preferably be a deaf or hard of hearing individual

Mandates language assessments within 6 months of diagnosis and every 6 months thereafter, with parents choosing whether to assess signed language, spoken language, or both; children not demonstrating progress must have their educational plans updated with specific intervention strategies

Establishes a 13-member Advisory Council with 3-year staggered terms, including representatives from the deaf community, educators, parents of both ASL-using and spoken English-using children, and state agencies to approve assessment tools and advise the program

Requires annual reports beginning July 1, 2028 comparing language acquisition of eligible children to their peers, with data disaggregated by language modality, hearing level, disability status, and race; the act takes effect July 1, 2026