The bill establishes an American Sign Language (ASL) education working group within the Department of Education, effective January 1, 2027. This group will consist of representatives from various state departments and organizations, including the Departments of Education, Aging and Disability Services, and Labor, as well as the Connecticut Council of Language Teachers and the American School for the Deaf. The working group is tasked with providing recommendations on curriculum guidance for ASL instruction, teacher certification standards based on established frameworks, and guidance for educator preparation programs. The recommendations will include aligning the ASL curriculum with nationally recognized proficiency frameworks, establishing proficiency benchmarks, and creating alternative certification pathways for native ASL users.

Additionally, the bill mandates that by July 1, 2030, the Department of Education must issue the developed ASL curriculum guidance to local and regional boards of education to ensure consistent implementation of ASL as part of the world languages curriculum. The working group is required to submit annual progress reports to the Education Committee starting January 1, 2028. The bill does not have any fiscal impact, as the working group is expected to have the necessary expertise to fulfill its requirements.