BOISE - More than 40 states recognize sign language as a separate and complete language. Idaho does not.

The Idaho Council for the Deaf and Hard of Hearing is asking the Legislature this year to recognize American Sign Language as a separate language.

What does this mean for people in Idaho, who may or may not be deaf or blind?

For starters, it could open the door for ASL to be taught as a foreign language in public schools. Students could earn credit by learning to sign just like they would by learning Spanish. And it could also prompt public and private colleges and universities to accept ASL course-credit earned in high school as foreign language credit - most institutions of higher education require foreign language credit for admission.

"Currently, there are institutions in Idaho that offer ASL, and offer it as foreign language credit," said Wes Maynard, executive director of the Idaho Council for the Deaf and Hard of Hearing. "But we would like to work collaboratively with colleges and universities to expand this."

The resolution is being sponsored by state Sen. Michael Jorgenson, R-Kootenai, who is the vice chairman of the Senate Education Committee.

However, the proposal is a "concurrent resolution," which means it does not have the same authority as a law. So even if lawmakers approve it, schools and other state agencies would offer ASL as a foreign language at their own discretion. According to the resolution, "It is a statement by the Legislature recognizing the validity and value of ASL as a language used by the deaf community."

When asked if the Idaho Council might seek to propose the resolution as a law, Maynard said it was a possibility.

"Maybe that is an idea that we would look at in the future," he said. "But we live in a state that is very locally controlled, so we would prefer to work with the institutions."

Times-News writer Joshua Palmer covers education. He can be reached at jpalmer-@magicvalley.com or at (208) 420-0526.

Learn more To learn more about the resolution to recognize sign language as a foreign language, visit the Idaho Council for the Deaf and Hard of Hearing's Web site, http://www.cdhh.idaho.gov What is ASL? American Sign Language is the most commonly used sign language in the United States, used by about 2 million people. ASL has its own syntax and grammar, which advocates say makes it a unique and complete language.