SB1462 is a bill that proposes amendments to the methods by which teachers can demonstrate braille competency for certification in educating blind and visually impaired pupils. It also mandates the State Board of Education (SBE) to adopt rules ensuring that these pupils receive appropriate quality blindness compensatory skills training.

The bill changes the current requirement for teachers to demonstrate braille competency from completing a nationally validated test or a test developed by the University of Arizona's visual impairment program to completing a national certification in unified English braille examination or a comparable braille test developed in a university-level teacher preparation program. Additionally, the SBE must adopt rules to ensure that teachers of orientation and mobility instruction, as well as teachers of rehabilitation teaching for blind or visually impaired pupils, possess and maintain relevant national certifications. Definitions for terms such as "compensatory skills," "expanded core curriculum," "orientation and mobility," and "rehabilitation teaching" are also provided in the bill.

Statutes affected:
Introduced Version: 15-214