Language Equality and Acquisition for Deaf Kids (LEAD-K) Act

A BILL TO AMEND THE CODE OF LAWS OF SOUTH CAROLINA, 1976, TO ENACT THE "LANGUAGE EQUALITY AND ACQUISITION FOR DEAF KIDS (LEAD-K) ACT" BY ADDING ARTICLE 3 TO CHAPTER 36, TITLE 59 SO AS TO DEFINE NECESSARY TERMS, TO PROVIDE THE STATE BOARD OF EDUCATION AND THE STATE DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION JOINTLY SHALL SELECT LANGUAGE DEVELOPMENTAL MILESTONES AS RESOURCES FOR PARENTS OF DEAF AND HARD OF HEARING CHILDREN TO USE TO MONITOR AND TRACK CERTAIN LANGUAGE ACQUISITION AND DEVELOPMENTAL STAGES TOWARD ENGLISH LITERACY OF THOSE CHILDREN; TO PROVIDE FOR THE CREATION OF AN AD HOC ADVISORY COMMITTEE TO SOLICIT INPUT FROM EXPERTS ON SELECTING CERTAIN LANGUAGE DEVELOPMENTAL MILESTONES FOR DEAF AND HARD OF HEARING CHILDREN, AND TO PROVIDE FOR THE COMPOSITION AND OTHER DUTIES OF THE COMMITTEE, AMONG OTHER THINGS; TO IMPOSE RELATED REPORTING REQUIREMENTS ON THE DEPARTMENT; TO PROVIDE THE PROVISIONS OF THIS ACT APPLY ONLY TO CHILDREN FROM BIRTH THROUGH FIVE YEARS OF AGE; AND TO PROVIDE IMPLEMENTATION OF THE ARTICLE IS CONTINGENT ON FUNDING, AMONG OTHER THINGS; AND TO DESIGNATE THE EXISTING PROVISIONS OF CHAPTER 36, TITLE 1, AS "ARTICLE 1, GENERAL PROVISIONS".