(a) Commencing with the 2004-05 school year, an individual may not be hired as a certificated employee to instruct deaf pupils unless the individual achieves a minimum score of 2.5 on the American Sign Language Proficiency Interview (ASLPI) or an equivalent score on an alternate test selected by the American Sign Language Competency Evaluation Committee of the California School for the Deaf that assesses American Sign Language linguistic competency.
(b) Commencing with the 2005-06 school year, an individual may not be hired as a certificated employee to instruct deaf pupils unless the individual achieves a minimum score of 3 on the ASLPI or an equivalent score on an alternate test, as described in subdivision (a).
(c) Commencing with the 2006-07 school year, an individual may not be hired as a certificated employee to instruct deaf pupils unless the individual achieves a minimum score of 3.5 on the ASLPI or an equivalent score on an alternate test, as described in subdivision (a).
(d) The minimum score requirements specified in subdivisions (a) to (c), inclusive, may be waived by the superintendent of the school if he or she certifies that no candidate who meets those requirements and all other selection criteria has applied to instruct deaf pupils and open positions remain.