Iowa Administrative Code › Agency 681 - Regents Board › Chapter 16 - Iowa School for the Deaf Organization and General Rules › Rule 681-16.1 - Organization

Current through Register Vol. 47, No. 3, July 24, 2024
(1)
Statement of mission.
The mission of the Iowa School for the
			 Deaf (ISD) has two primary components: to provide direct educational services
			 to deaf and hard-of-hearing children and youth of the state of Iowa and to
			 serve a leadership and resource role in statewide efforts to meet the needs of
			 the deaf and hard of hearing. In fulfilling its stated mission, ISD will
			 coordinate its efforts with all appropriate state agencies, area education
			 agencies, and local education agencies. Such coordination will be accomplished
			 in the spirit of cooperation reflected in the agreements with these agencies.
Consistent with various sections of the Iowa Code, the
				educational mission of the Iowa School for the Deaf is to provide an
				appropriate individual education program for deaf and hard-of-hearing children
				and youth who require the comprehensive programs provided by the school.
The educational programs of the Iowa School for the Deaf will
				be consistent with the philosophy, reflected in federal and state legislation,
				that disabled and nondisabled children and youth be educated together to the
				greatest extent possible. Thus, ISD assumes responsibility for providing an
				education for those deaf and hard-of-hearing children and youth, including
				those with additional disabilities, for whom the comprehensive educational
				programs of the school are most appropriate.
The educational programs of the Iowa School for the Deaf are
				based on the premise that the school exists to serve its students by providing
				a learning environment which, to the greatest extent possible, maximizes each
				child's potential to become a contributing member of society by enhancing the
				development of communication, knowledge, self-realization, human relationships,
				economic independence, and a sense of civic and social responsibility. The
				child-centered programs include learning activities and experiences that
				appropriately and specifically meet the needs of each child.
The scope of the educational program includes provisions for
				the deaf and hard of hearing from infancy through secondary education. Program
				formats include full-time residential, day school, summer and other short-term
				residential programs to meet specific needs, vocational, and on- and off-campus
				individual assessment and evaluation services. For residential students,
				activities and experiences on a 24-hour basis, not restricted to the
				traditional academic day, are an integral part of the program.
The Iowa School for the Deaf also serves as a state resource
				and dissemination center for education of the deaf and hard of hearing. In this
				role, the school has a central and vital mission in the statewide education of
				the deaf and hard of hearing and provides a resource center for educators,
				related field professionals, parents, the deaf and hard-of-hearing community,
				and all interested citizens. Such a role affords the opportunity for the
				community-at-large to draw upon the specialized programs and services available
				at ISD.
The Iowa School for the Deaf will make its special resources
				available to regent universities, area education agencies, local education
				agencies, and other public and private agencies. Resource services would
				provide support in such activities as:
1. Assessment, counseling, and educational
			 planning for deaf and hard-of-hearing children and youth;
2. Programs for development of specialized
			 communications skills;
3. Parent
			 education;
4. Extended educational
			 programming for deaf and hard-of-hearing adults;
5. Research;
6. Preservice and continuing education of
			 teachers and related professionals;
7. Curriculum development and evaluation;
			 and
8. Development and
			 dissemination of instructional materials and technology.
Within the scope of the school's mission, future programs will
				be determined by the ongoing evaluation of existing programs and an analysis of
				developing needs. Programs will be added, curtailed, or eliminated based on
				assessment of need and the most effective use of resources. The school remains
				flexible so as to respond quickly and effectively to unmet needs of deaf and
				hard-of-hearing children and youth of Iowa.