Welcome to the Indiana School for the Deaf, the Administrative team is thrilled to have you here with us today. Our school offers a complete academic program for Deaf and Hard of Hearing students from early childhood education through high school.

The Indiana School for the Deaf is a tuition-free state public school to eligible Early Childhood Education and K-12 students who are Deaf/Hard of Hearing. ISD is accredited byAdvancEDand theConference of Educational Administrators of Schools and Programs for the Deaf (CEASD).

The Indiana School for the Deaf (ISD) is a fully accredited school for Deaf and hard-of-hearing students in nursery school through high school. The Indiana School for the Deaf is accredited by AdvancED Indiana and the Conference of Educational Administrators of Schools and Programs for the Deaf (CEASD). It provides services to approximately 350 students enrolled on campus. About 60% of the students live on campus during the academic year. ISD offers a full range of social activities, including sports, clubs, and organizations.

The Indiana School for the Deaf was founded in 1843 by William Willard, the first Deaf person in American to establish a state school for Deaf people. It was at first a semi-private school that offered free instruction to any Deaf person in-state or out-of-state that sought an education. The following year, the Willard School formally became the Indiana School for the Deaf, the first state-sponsored school in America that offered free education to any Deaf student. From that beginning, ISD has developed into one of the leading Deaf Schools in the nation, rich in heritage yet always striving to meet the challenges of the 21st century.

Legal Mandate IC 20-22-2-1

Services provided Sec. 1. (a) The Indiana School for the Deaf is established as a state educational resources center that includes the following: (1) A residential and day school. (2) Until the center for Deaf and Hard of Hearing education is established and operating, outreach services, consultative services to local education agencies to assist the agencies in meeting the needs of locally enrolled students with hearing disabilities. (b) The state board of finance and the budget agency may not transfer for use by or for the center for Deaf and Hard of Hearing education any appropriation made to the Indiana School for the Deaf by P.L. 229-2011. As added by P.L. 1-2005, SEC. 6. Amended by P.L. 109-2012, SEC. 14.

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Purpose IC 20-22-2-2

​Sec. 2. The school shall provide for the instruction, education, and care of children who are determined to have a hearing disability by case conference in accordance with Indiana law and federal law. As added by P.L. 1-2005, SEC. 6.

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Educational facilities, educational programs, and training IC 20-22-2-3

Sec. 3. The school staff provide the following (1) Educational facilities that meet standards established by the state board for regular public schools. (2) Educational facilities for school age individuals. (3) Educational programs and services to meet those special needs imposed by hearing impairment so that a student with a hearing disability (including a student with multiple disabilities with hearing impairment) may achieve the student's maximum ability for independence in academic pursuits, career opportunities, travel, personal care, and home management. (4) Training to permit a student with a hearing disability (including a student with multiple disabilities with hearing impairment) to achieve the student's maximum development toward self-support and independence. As added by P.L. 1-2005, Sec. 6. Amended by P.L. 99-2007, Sec. 165.

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Students admitted to school IC 20-22-2-6

Sec. 6. Subject to (1) the determination by case conference committees based on individualized education programs; and (2) the school's admissions criteria adopted by the board under IC 20-22-3-1(a)(4); the executive shall receive as students in the school Indiana residents who are school age individuals with a hearing disability. As added by P.L. 1-2005, Sec. 6. Amended by P.L. 218-2005, Sec. 64.; P.L. 99-2007, Sec. 166.

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Furthermore

We are serving Deaf and Hard of Hearing children who are diverse and have a range of needs regardless of where they are placed for their education. Each Deaf or Hard of Hearing child's individual needs are determined by an Individual Family Service Plan or the Individual Educational Plan, and placement is determined through a case conference. ISD may provide support or services by providing the educational services through the school on ISD's campus. See the mission statements and further information for the Education and Student Life in their sections.