Section 37-23-203 - Certification of teachers in education of blind and visually impaired students; adoption of Braille as core subject for blind and visually impaired students(1) As part of the certification process, teachers certified in the education of blind and visually impaired students shall be required to demonstrate competence in reading and writing Braille after January 1, 2010. The State Department of Education shall adopt procedures to assess such competencies.(2) The department shall recognize Braille and Orientation Mobility as core subject areas for all blind students, as deemed appropriate by the IEP Committee for all areas of the Expanded Core Curriculum (ECC). The department shall adopt proficiency and competency in reading and writing of Literary Braille and Nemeth Code as a minimal standard for all teachers of the blind certified after January 1, 2010.(3) Competency in reading and writing Literary Braille and Nemeth Code must be exhibited by an individual passing the Mississippi Praxis II Braille Competency Exam.(4) The adoption of Braille as a core subject for blind and visually impaired students recognizes that the teaching of Braille is a unique educational need unparalleled by any other subject or skill taught to either general or special education students.(5) The Expanded Core Curriculum (ECC) is the body of knowledge and skills that are needed by students with visual impairments due to their unique disability-specific needs. Students with visual impairments need the Expanded Core Curriculum in addition to the core academic curriculum of general education. The ECC should be used as a framework for assessing students, planning individual goals and providing instruction. The ECC includes compensatory or functional academic skills, including communication modes, orientation and mobility, social interaction skills, independent living skills, recreation and leisure skills, career education, use of assistive technology, sensory efficiency skills and self-determination.Laws, 1995, ch. 571, § 7; Laws, 2008, ch. 380, § 7; Laws, 2012, ch. 474, § 7, eff. 7/1/2012.