American Sign Language: A “New” Old Language for Credit and Instruction in the Schools

ABSTRACT Recent legislation has opened the door for the instruction of American Sign Language (ASL) in public schools and/or at the college/university level for foreign or second language credit. Fourteen states have passed this unique language legislation. This article provides a current example of this type of legislation and addresses the impact and planning necessary to meet the challenge of this “new” old language in the schools.