The Maryland State Board of Education this week approved implementation of the Maryland Common Core State Curriculum Frameworks for Braille: Mathematics and the Maryland Common Core State Curriculum Frameworks for Braille: English/Language Arts. The Braille standards are available on the Web, here.
In response to House Bill 413 and Senate Bill 230, MSDE’s Division of Special Education/Early Intervention Services established a Task Force in September 2010 comprised of stakeholders with representatives from the Maryland State Department of Education, the Maryland School for the Blind, local school systems, parents, and advocacy groups. The Task Force developed the Maryland Common Core State Curriculum Frameworks for Braille: Mathematics and the Maryland Common Core State Curriculum Frameworks for Braille: English/Language Arts.
The braille frameworks are based on the same Maryland Common Core Curriculum Frameworks adopted by the State Board in June 2011 and include the identified braille skills and expectations at each grade level (Prekindergarten through grade twelve) for students who read braille.
“The braille standards provide a clear roadmap of braille instruction for teachers to improve literacy skills for students who read braille,” Dr. Lillian M. Lowery, State Superintendent of Schools said. “We are proud to be the only state to incorporate braille standards into our Common Core State Standards.”
“The Maryland Common Core State Frameworks for Braille will establish grade-level standards and promote rigorous expectations for Maryland students who read braille,” said Marcella E. Franczkowski, Assistant State Superintendent of the Division of Special Education/Early Intervention Services. “We anticipate that these braille frameworks will provide support to teachers and families of students with visual impairments throughout the nation.”
Dr. Michael J. Bina, president, The Maryland School for the Blind, agreed.
“Maryland’s development of braille standards in Mathematics and English/Language Arts is a phenomenal, giant step forward toward full literacy for students who are blind and visually impaired,” he said. “This will ensure that students are able to access the curriculum competing with their classmates in these two critical academic areas.”