Last September, I was invited to participate in the ASL Secondary (Grades 9–12) Standards Review, coordinated by the Indiana Department of Education (IDOE) under the guidance of Kelly Connelly, Assistant Director of Academics. This opportunity allowed me to collaborate with fellow ASL educators and contribute to the ongoing development of high-quality standards for American Sign Language instruction across the state.
The first in-person meeting took place on Thursday, October 16, 2025, at the Indiana School for the Deaf. Two workgroups met concurrently: ASL (K–12) and ASL Secondary. I participated in the ASL Secondary workgroup alongside three ASL teachers representing LaPorte, Munster, and Penn (Mishawaka). Together, we carefully reviewed every standard outlined in the Indiana Academic Standards for World Languages: ASL Secondary.
Our review focused on the five goal areas (5Cs)—Communication, Cultures, Connections, Comparisons, and Communities—across three proficiency levels: Novice, Intermediate, and Advanced. During this process, we made several minor revisions to improve clarity, alignment, and instructional relevance while maintaining the integrity of the standards.
Following the initial meeting, public feedback was solicited through the Indiana Department of Education website. Educators across the state, including ASL teachers, were encouraged to review the proposed revisions and provide input. In the second week of December, our workgroup reconvened virtually to review educators’ feedback. After thoughtful discussion, we finalized and approved the revised standards.
On January 14, 2026, the Indiana State Board of Education (SBE) met to review the updated ASL Secondary standards and formally approved the revisions. This marked an important milestone in ensuring that ASL instruction at the secondary level continues to reflect best practices, linguistic rigor, and cultural authenticity.
The finalized World Languages: ASL Secondary 2026 Standards are now publicly available and can be accessed at the link below:
https://www.in.gov/doe/files/2026-Indiana-Academic-Standards-World-Languages-ASL-Secondary.pdf
I am grateful for the opportunity to contribute to this meaningful work and to collaborate with dedicated ASL educators across Indiana in support of students, language access, and Deaf culture.
