1. Any public school or public institution of higher education in this state may offer one or more courses in American Sign Language (ASL). American Sign Language shall be treated as a foreign language for academic credit granting and receiving purposes when ASL is offered by a public school or public institution of higher education in Missouri.

2. Any student enrolled in a public school or public institution of higher education in this state that offers an American Sign Language course or courses as part of the school’s or institution’s regular curriculum shall receive academic credit for such course or courses if such school or institution provides academic credit for a course or courses in any other foreign language. Nothing in this section shall prohibit a school or institution from offering nonacademic credit ASL classes as part of the school’s or institution’s educational program.

3. Any student enrolled in a public school or public institution of higher education in this state that offers an American Sign Language course or courses may earn academic credit for such course by completing the course with a passing grade or by demonstrating a proficiency in ASL at a level of competence equal to that taught in such course.

4. Academic credit received for taking an ASL course or demonstrating proficiency in ASL shall be counted toward satisfaction of any foreign language or language arts requirements of the public school or public institution of higher education, including any foreign language or language arts entrance requirements of any public institution of higher education.

5. Nothing in subsection 4 of this section shall be construed as limiting the ability of individual departments in public institutions of higher education located in the state of Missouri from establishing specific departmental language requirements for majors that cannot be met by American Sign Language.

6. The Missouri commission for the deaf and hard of hearing and the Missouri American Sign Language teachers association shall provide assistance, advice, and guidance on the development, establishment, and teaching of American Sign Language courses in Missouri public schools and public institutions of higher education as needed and requested.