Relating to the instruction of American Sign Language in public high schools.
With the passage of HB 315, schools that previously did not offer ASL would be required to incorporate it into their language curriculum. This change will affect the instructional practices of public schools, as they will need to hire qualified instructors to teach ASL and ensure the course is taught in-person. By recognizing ASL as a formal language akin to other foreign languages, the bill promotes greater recognition of Deaf culture and potentially aids in bridging communication gaps within diverse communities.
House Bill 315 seeks to amend the Texas Education Code to mandate public high schools to offer American Sign Language (ASL) as part of their required curriculum. Specifically, the bill clarifies that ASL is recognized as a language for educational purposes. It aims to broaden the language offerings in schools, encouraging inclusivity and providing students with valuable communication skills that can support the Deaf community.
The introduction of HB 315 may spark discussions regarding the resources available for training appropriate instructors and the implications of adding new language courses to the existing curriculum. Opponents may argue that the focus should remain on more traditional languages like Spanish or French, citing budgetary constraints. Nonetheless, proponents see the bill as a crucial step towards supporting accessibility and diversity in education, ensuring that students who are Deaf or hard of hearing have the same educational opportunities as their peers.