§18-2-7. Courses of study; language of instruction.

The state Board of Education shall prescribe minimum standards in the courses of study to be offered in elementary schools, high schools, vocational schools and in all other kinds, grades and classes of schools or departments thereof, which may now or hereafter be maintained in the state, in whole or in part, from any state fund or funds: Provided, That the courses of study in the public schools in the state shall be prepared by the faculties, teachers or other constituted authority thereof, and shall, before going into effect, be submitted to the state Board of Education for its approval. The basic language of instruction in all schools, public, private and parochial, shall be the English language only. The state board shall not adopt any policies or rules which set out time requirements within the instructional day for instruction in kindergarten through fourth grade.

The state Board of Education shall accept American sign language as a credited course of study in a foreign language in elementary schools, high schools, vocational schools and in all other kinds, grades and classes of schools or departments thereof: Provided, That nothing in this section shall be construed to require the provision of instruction in American sign language that is not otherwise required by state or federal statute or regulation: Provided, however, That on or before January 6, 1995, the state board shall provide to the Governor and to the President of the Senate and the Speaker of the House of Delegates a plan for teaching American sign language in public schools, which plan shall include the form and manner proposed by the state board for implementation of the teaching of American sign language in the schools, the time frame for implementation and the projected cost of the implementation.