Arizona State Schools for the Deaf and the Blind

The Arizona State Schools for the Deaf and the Blind (ASDB) serves children and students from birth through 21 years of age who have sensory impairments such as deafness and blindness. As of April 2012, ASDB had 2,240 students who either attended one of its three on-campus schools, participated in its birth-to-age three or preschool programs, or received ASDB services at their local schools. ASDB can do more to promote student success by ensuring that children with sensory impairments receive services early in their lives, increasing students’ access to highly qualified teachers, and researching and addressing differences in students’ test scores. ASDB should also ensure its regional cooperative program, which serves students at their local schools, more fully recovers its cost. It should also strengthen oversight and management of the program. Finally, ASDB needs to address critical information technology weaknesses.