A. It shall be the right of every child who is deaf or so hard of hearing that he cannot participate in the regular public school program to receive an appropriate education at the expense of the State of Oklahoma. It shall be the duty of every school district to seek out and identify every such child between the ages of two (2) and twenty-one (21) years at the earliest possible age under procedures to be prescribed by regulations of the State Department of Education. It shall be the duty of every parent or other person having custody of such child to cause such child to be enrolled in and attend a school which provides special education for such deaf children.
B. The State Department of Education may establish educational programs for preschool deaf and hard-of-hearing children by regional education service centers. Such programs shall serve preschool deaf and hard-of-hearing children from the age the hearing impairment is detected by a licensed physician or audiologist. Such programs shall also include a course of instruction for the parents of deaf and hard-of-hearing children.
Amended by Laws 1982, c. 168, § 1.