MI HB5836

Create a parent resource by August 31, 2022, allowing parents/guardians of deaf or hard of hearing children age 5 or younger to monitor language acquisition and developmental stages toward English literacy, aligned with existing state guidelines and federal disability assessment instruments.

Adopt existing assessment tools by September 1, 2022, for use by school districts, intermediate school districts, public school academies, and the Michigan School for the Deaf to track expressive and receptive language development in deaf or hard of hearing children age 5 or younger.

Require individualized family service plan or individualized education program teams to provide written explanations and specific recommendations for services and strategies when a child does not meet developmental milestones or progress in language skills necessary for kindergarten readiness.

Establish a 15-member volunteer advisory committee by January 1, 2022, composed of parents, teachers, specialists, and experts in deaf and hard of hearing education representing both American Sign Language/English and spoken English approaches; committee dissolves December 31, 2022.

Require the Department of Education to produce annual reports by July 1, 2023, and thereafter comparing language and literacy development of deaf or hard of hearing children age 5 or younger to their peers using existing federal special education data.