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Deaf language learning law among those taking effect this year

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David P. Fulmer

Michigan education officials will start laying the groundwork for changing how the state handles language learning for deaf children after a new law takes effect this year

The law will form a new committee to come up with tools to track language learning using American Sign Language, English, or both.

It will also require the state Department of Education to track data and publish an annual report.

Millie Hursin is with the Language Equality and Acquisition for Deaf Kids core committee.

“When parents see data and when the legislators see data, they’re going to expect to see change. And without that data, without having data and posting it and having it being accessible to everybody, change may never occur.”

Hursin says deaf kids are not currently receiving the same access to language hearing children have.

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