Home - Pennsylvania School for the Deaf

Continuing a tradition of excellence in Deaf Education since 1820

ACADEMICS

SERVICES

COMMUNITY

Inspired By Excellence & Innovation

We are committed to providing a quality education for our students with a challenging, interactive and integrated curriculum, which is aligned with the Pennsylvania Common Core Standards, and each student has an individualized education plan to ensure they stay on track with national standards. Teachers use a fully immersive, bilingual approach to ensure each student attains fluency in American Sign Language and English. We offer a wide range of extracurricular classes as well as leadership and involvement opportunities to supplement every child’s personal development.

VALUES

OUR MISSION

The Pennsylvania School for the Deaf educates students to succeed by recognizing and developing individual strengths, building confidence, collaborating with families and communities in a nurturing, dynamic, and language-rich environment steeped in cultural awareness of Deaf, Hearing, and worldwide diversity.

(Adopted by Strategic Planning Committee, October 2013)

OUR VISION

Empower children with hearing loss with fully accessible services and a quality education so that they will grow up to be productive, responsible members of society.

OUR BELIEFS

Language is the key to opening the world of learning to every child.

American Sign Language and English are both essential to students who are Deaf, Hard of Hearing and/or use cochlear implants or other assistive technology to build literacy and develop understanding and knowledge of the world.

Strategies that deepen our students’ knowledge may include spoken language, sign language, speech reading, and other communication tools.

All students are capable of setting goals, growing and achieving when guided, nurtured and challenged.

Our students thrive when they have the knowledge and skills they need to self-advocate, pose and solve problems, and become critical and creative thinkers.

Every individual has strengths and the ability to contribute to improve their community and the world.
Our students thrive when the communities which support them partner with the school.

Our students are prepared for the 21st century by understanding with multiple perspectives and valuing diversity.