(1) As used in this section, the term:
(a) “Auditory-oral education program” means a program that develops and relies solely on listening skills and uses an implant or assistive hearing device for the purpose of relying on speech and spoken language skills as the method of communication and uses faculty and supervisors certified as listening and spoken language specialists each day the child is in attendance.
(b) “Deaf or hard of hearing” means aided or unaided hearing loss that affects the processing of linguistic information and adversely affects performance in the educational environment. The degree of loss may range from mild to profound in accordance with criteria established by rule of the State Board of Education.
(c) “School” means a public or private school located in this state which can teach children who have obtained an implant or assistive hearing device, using faculty certified as listening and spoken language specialists.
(2) The parent of a child who is deaf or hard of hearing and who meets the following requirements may enroll the child in an auditory-oral education program as a school of choice pursuant to s. 1002.20. Such child may continue attending the school and complete the development of listening and spoken language skills at the school. In order to enroll and attend, the child must:
(a) Have received an implant or assistive hearing device;
(b) Be between the ages of 3 and 7 years, or between the ages of 2 and 7 years when the school district elects to serve children with disabilities who are under the age of 3 years; and
(c) Be a resident of the state.
(3) The level of services shall be determined by the individual educational plan team or individualized family support plan team, which includes the child’s parent in accordance with the rules of the State Board of Education and a certified listening and spoken language specialist from the family’s chosen program. A child is eligible for services under this section until the end of the school year in which he or she reaches the age of 7 years or after grade 2, whichever comes first.
(4) Beginning with the 2017-2018 school year, a school district shall add four special consideration points to the calculation of a matrix of services for a student who is deaf and enrolled in an auditory-oral education program.
History.—s. 8, ch. 2011-175; s. 17, ch. 2016-237; s. 7, ch. 2020-79.
Structure Florida Statutes
Title XLVIII - Early Learning-20 Education Code
Chapter 1002 - Student and Parental Rights and Educational Choices
Part III - Educational Choice (Ss. 1002.31-1002.40)
1002.31 - Controlled open enrollment; public school parental choice.
1002.3105 - Academically Challenging Curriculum to Enhance Learning (ACCEL) options.
1002.311 - Single-gender programs authorized.
1002.32 - Developmental research (laboratory) schools.
1002.3301 - Charter School Review Commission.
1002.3305 - College-Preparatory Boarding Academy Pilot Program for at-risk students.
1002.331 - High-performing charter schools.
1002.332 - High-performing charter school system.
1002.333 - Persistently low-performing schools.
1002.334 - Innovative Blended Learning and Real-Time Student Assessment Pilot Program.
1002.34 - Charter technical career centers.
1002.35 - New World School of the Arts.
1002.36 - Florida School for the Deaf and the Blind.
1002.37 - The Florida Virtual School.
1002.38 - Opportunity Scholarship Program.
1002.39 - The John M. McKay Scholarships for Students with Disabilities Program.
1002.391 - Auditory-oral education programs.
1002.394 - The Family Empowerment Scholarship Program.