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Title 20, EducationRelease 119-110

§4360 National Study on the Education of the Deaf

Title 20 › CHAPTER 55 — EDUCATION OF THE DEAF › SUBCHAPTER II — GENERAL PROVISIONS › § 4360

Last updated Sep 22, 2026|Official source

Summary

Create a commission to do a national study about how schools affect the lives of deaf people. The study must find school-related barriers that make it hard for deaf people to succeed in college or work and the school factors that help them succeed. "Deaf" here means someone with a hearing impairment, including hard of hearing, those who became deaf later in life, and those who are profoundly deaf. The commission must get public input. It must publish a notice in the Federal Register, consult many groups (including organizations of deaf people, parents, teachers, and researchers), and may hold public meetings. It must offer structured chances to hear and respond to views. The commission must report to the Secretary and Congress not later than 18 months after August 14, 2008, with recommendations (including possible legislation) and a detailed summary of the input and how it was used. Funds may be provided as needed for fiscal years 2009 and 2010 to carry out this work.

Full Legal Text

Title 20, §4360

Education, Source: USLM XML via OLRC

(a)Conduct of study
(1)In general
The Secretary shall establish a commission on the education of the deaf (in this section referred to as the “commission”) to conduct a national study on the education of the deaf, to identify education-related barriers to successful postsecondary education experiences and employment for individuals who are deaf, and those education-related factors that contribute to successful postsecondary education experiences and employment for individuals who are deaf.
(2)Definition
In this section the term “deaf”, when used with respect to an individual, means an individual with a hearing impairment, including an individual who is hard of hearing, an individual deafened later in life, and an individual who is profoundly deaf.
(b)Public input and consultation
(1)In general
In conducting such study, the commission shall obtain input from the public. To obtain such input, the commission shall—
(A)publish a notice with an opportunity for comment in the Federal Register;
(B)consult with individuals and organizations representing a wide range of perspectives on deafness-related issues, including organizations representing individuals who are deaf, parents of children who are deaf, educators, and researchers; and
(C)take such other action as the commission deems appropriate, which may include holding public meetings.
(2)Structured opportunities
The commission shall provide structured opportunities to receive and respond to the viewpoints of the individuals and organizations described in paragraph (1)(B).
(c)Report
The commission shall report to the Secretary and Congress not later than 18 months after August 14, 2008, regarding the results of the study. The report shall contain— (1)
(2)a detailed summary of the input received under subsection (b) and the ways in which the report addresses such input.
(d)Authorization of appropriations
There are authorized to be appropriated such sums as may be necessary for each of the fiscal years 2009 and 2010 to carry out the provisions of this section.

Legislative History

Notes & Related Subsidiaries

Editorial Notes

Prior Provisions

A prior section 4360, Pub. L. 99–371, title II, § 211, formerly title IV, § 411, Aug. 4, 1986, 100 Stat. 794; renumbered title II, § 211, and amended Pub. L. 102–421, title I, §§ 101(b)(5), (6), 140, 151(a)(4), Oct. 16, 1992, 106 Stat. 2151, 2163, 2164; Pub. L. 103–73, title II, § 204(i), Aug. 11, 1993, 107 Stat. 735, authorized appropriations for this chapter, prior to repeal by Pub. L. 105–244, § 3, title IX, § 923, Oct. 7, 1998, 112 Stat. 1585, 1832, effective Oct. 1, 1998. See section 4360a of this title.

Amendments

2008—Subsec. (a)(1). Pub. L. 110–315, § 913(a), inserted “establish a commission on the education of the deaf (in this section referred to as the ‘commission’) to” after “The Secretary shall”. Subsec. (b). Pub. L. 110–315, § 913(b), substituted “commission” for “Secretary” wherever appearing. Subsec. (c). Pub. L. 110–315, § 913(c)(1), in introductory provisions, substituted “commission shall report to the Secretary and Congress not later than 18 months after
August 14, 2008” for “Secretary shall report to Congress not later than 18 months after
October 7, 1998”. Subsec. (c)(1). Pub. L. 110–315, § 913(c)(2), substituted “recommendations relating to educated-related factors that contribute to successful postsecondary education experiences and employment for individuals who are deaf, including” for “recommendations, including” and “commission” for “Secretary”. Subsec. (d). Pub. L. 110–315, § 913(d), substituted “such sums as may be necessary for each of the fiscal years 2009 and 2010” for “$1,000,000 for each of the fiscal years 1999 and 2000”.

Statutory Notes and Related Subsidiaries

Effective Date

Section effective Oct. 1, 1998, except as otherwise provided in Pub. L. 105–244, see section 3 of Pub. L. 105–244, set out as an

Effective Date

of 1998 Amendment note under section 1001 of this title.

Reference

Citations & Metadata

Citation

20 U.S.C. § 4360

Title 20, Education

Last Updated

Sep 22, 2026

Release point: 119-110