Senate · Introduced · 2025-2026 Regular Session

SB133: SB133 "Blind Persons' Braille Literacy Rights and Education Act"; enact

Last action February 11, 2025 · Senate Read and Referred

A Georgia Senate bill would require schools to evaluate blind and visually impaired students for Braille instruction, spell out what their education plans must include, and require textbook publishers to provide Braille-ready electronic files.

In plain language

Georgia law currently lets public schools provide Braille instruction to blind or visually impaired students but does not require an evaluation of whether a student needs it. This bill creates the 'Blind Persons' Braille Literacy Rights and Education Act,' which requires that a certified vision-impairment teacher evaluate each blind or visually impaired student's reading and writing needs before the student's individualized education program (IEP) is written. Unless the evaluation shows Braille is not appropriate, the IEP must include Braille instruction, and if a team decides against it, the IEP must document the literature reviewed and the evidence supporting that decision. The bill also requires publishers selling textbooks and instructional materials to Georgia schools or districts to provide an electronic version formatted so it can be converted into Braille or synthesized speech. Starting July 1, 2025, the Professional Standards Commission could not issue or renew a license to teach blind or visually impaired students unless the teacher completes an approved Braille course, holds a national Braille certificate, or passes an approved Braille test.

What the bill does

Creates a new Code section (O.C.G.A. § 20-2-152.3) defining 'blind or visually impaired student,' 'Braille,' and related terms for special education purposes.
Requires a certified special education vision-impairment teacher to evaluate a blind or visually impaired student's reading and writing needs before the IEP team decides on Braille instruction.
Requires that Braille instruction be included in the student's IEP unless the team determines, based on that evaluation, that it is not appropriate.
Sets specific content requirements for IEPs covering Braille use, including start dates, session frequency, competency goals, and assessment measures.
Requires textbook and instructional material publishers selling to Georgia schools or districts to supply an electronic version formatted for conversion to Braille or synthesized speech.
Bars the Professional Standards Commission, starting July 1, 2025, from issuing or renewing licenses to teach blind or visually impaired students unless the teacher meets one of three Braille competency requirements.

Who it affects

Blind and visually impaired students in Georgia public schools, their IEP teams and special education vision-impairment teachers, local school districts, publishers that sell textbooks and instructional materials to Georgia schools, and the Professional Standards Commission, which licenses teachers of blind and visually impaired students.

Why it matters

Families of blind or visually impaired students would gain a guaranteed evaluation and documented reasoning behind Braille decisions in their child's education plan, rather than relying on discretion alone. Publishers and licensing rules would also change, affecting what materials schools can buy and who can teach these students.

Key provisions

Subsection (b) defines a 'blind or visually impaired student' using visual acuity, field of vision, or medically expected deterioration thresholds tied to federal special education eligibility.
Subsection (d) requires an evaluation by a Professional Standards Commission certified vision-impairment teacher before an IEP team can exclude Braille instruction.
Subsection (e) lists six required elements of an IEP addressing Braille, including implementation timing, session length, and competency benchmarks.
Subsection (e)(6) requires written documentation if a team decides not to include Braille instruction, including cited literature and evidence.
Subsection (f) requires publishers selling textbooks or instructional materials to Georgia schools to provide an electronic version convertible to Braille or synthesized speech.
Subsection (g) sets a July 1, 2025 deadline after which teacher licensing for instructing blind or visually impaired students requires a Braille course, national certificate, or passed test.

From the bill

“provisions shall be made for instruction in Braille an d the use of Braille except39 when the student's IEP team expressly determines that such instruction is not appropriate”
Sets the default rule that Braille instruction must be included unless the IEP team decides otherwise.

Status timeline

2025-02-11Senate Read and Referred (Senate)
2025-02-10Senate Hopper (Senate)

Topics

special education
Braille literacy
blind and visually impaired students
teacher licensing
IEP requirements