Bill > SB1505

This bill amends Arizona's education law to enhance braille literacy requirements for blind students and teachers. The bill requires the state board of education to adopt rules that ensure blind pupils receive individualized braille literacy assessments and appropriate educational services. It establishes that braille proficiency should be presumed essential for blind students' educational progress, unless the entire education team agrees that the student's visual impairment does not affect reading and writing performance. The bill mandates detailed individualized education program specifications for braille instruction, including assessment results, implementation methods, instruction start date, session frequency, competency levels, and required materials. Additionally, the bill updates requirements for teachers certified in educating blind and visually impaired pupils, requiring them to demonstrate braille competence through either a national unified English braille examination or a comparable university-level program test. The bill also provides a clear definition of a "blind pupil" and introduces "braille" as referring to the unified English braille code. A transitional provision allows teachers who completed their preparation programs before July 2016 until January 1, 2028, to demonstrate braille competency, providing time for existing educators to meet the new requirements.

Education

https://apps.azleg.gov/BillStatus/BillOverview/82935