Get Full Government Meeting Transcripts, Videos, & Alerts Forever!
Get email alerts on the Education Language Programs topic
No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.
Yorktown students demonstrate ASL program; district confirms ASL satisfies state language credit
Summary
Students from Mildred East Strang Middle School demonstrated the district27s American Sign Language program at the Oct. 27 board meeting. Superintendent Ron Hatter and staff said ASL is offered from sixth grade through high school level 2 and is accepted by the New York State Education Department for world language credit.
Students from Mildred East Strang Middle School demonstrated American Sign Language and described their classroom work at the Yorktown Central School District Board of Education meeting on Oct. 27.
The demonstration, led by ASL teacher Molly Devine Carey and several students, showcased alphabet fingerspelling, classroom activities and a recent collaborative event with the Ossining Union Free School District that included panelists from the local Deaf community.
The program, now in its second year, offers ASL across multiple grade levels. "This is our second year offering American Sign Language as a world language option for our students here at MESMS and YHS," Molly Devine Carey said. Students described learning about Deaf culture, distinctions between medical and cultural models of deafness, and the importance of advocacy and accessibility.
Superintendent Ron Hatter told the board that ASL coursework "is accepted by New York State Education Department for satisfactory credit in world languages," meaning students may use ASL to meet the high school language requirement. Hatter introduced the teacher and thanked staff and community partners who helped develop the program.
Students noted classroom and community benefits. One student said learning ASL "will help me in the future" by providing perspective on deaf culture and increasing inclusion; another called the class "a fun and interactive hands-on language." The students also described practicing signing with their Ossining peers and hearing from Deaf community members during a panel.
Board members and administrators praised the program and its growth. Members asked how students had used ASL outside the classroom; students cited collaborative events and informal practice. The board and administrators credited teacher leadership, school scheduling coordination and community partnerships for the program's expansion.
The presentation ended with a brief board challenge to learn the ASL alphabet, followed by a short recess to allow families and students to depart.
Proper names and affiliations appearing in this report reflect the transcript and district usage: Mildred East Strang Middle School (MESMS); Yorktown High School (YHS); Molly Devine Carey (ASL teacher).
