MN HF1449

School districts must provide direct instruction to deaf and hard-of-hearing students through teachers licensed in deaf and hard-of-hearing education, with candidates required to demonstrate at least level 4 proficiency in American Sign Language on the ASL Proficiency Interview evaluation.

Teachers renewing licenses to teach deaf and hard-of-hearing students must complete 30 continuing education clock hours on hearing loss topics including American Sign Language, ASL linguistics, or deaf culture, and demonstrate level 4 ASL proficiency in each renewal period, effective July 1, 2025.

Professional Educator Licensing and Standards Board must review whether the oral/aural deaf education license should be discontinued or incorporated into the deaf and hard-of-hearing license requirements, with findings reported to legislative committees by February 1, 2022, and rules amended or adopted by July 1, 2023.

Education commissioner must amend Minnesota Rules to expand eligibility criteria for deaf and hard-of-hearing services to include more students with unilateral hearing loss by reducing the threshold from 45 decibels hearing level to 35 decibels.