Children receive instruction in the communication skills areas of speech, audition, and sign language. The Math Their Way program is also part of the curriculum in ISD's preschool. Children in the elementary school use standard textbooks and teacher made materials in developing basic academic skills. Both the whole language approach and traditional subject area methods are employed. Classes in the elementary school are basically self-contained.
Children sometimes join other classrooms in specific subject areas.
Mainstreaming in the public schools in Jacksonville is also available. Students in the junior high school rotate to subject area specialists. Students have fully equipped science and computer labs available to them. Students in the junior high school are taught using traditional methods and are given the opportunity to interact with peers who are deaf and hard of hearing. The high school program at the Illinois School for the Deaf includes an eight period day where students are scheduled individually based on their IEP and individual interests and abilities.