Deaf And Hard Of Hearing Program To Stay In Newton

NEWTON, MA — When the EDCO Collaborative announced it was dissolving earlier this spring, it was unclear what would happen to the school district's Deaf and Hard of Hearing Program. Letters of support for the program from former participants and families poured in to the School Committee and the district praising the program and lobbying for Newton to keep it.

Thanks to a new collaboration on the state level, the program will stay, according to the school district Wednesday.

CAPS Collaborative, a Westminster-based organization serving school districts across the Commonwealth is taking on the management and operation of the inclusion-based program.

“We know how disappointed and concerned members of the [Deaf and Hard of Hearing Program] community were when EDCO announced its dissolution, leaving tremendous uncertainty about the future of this valuable program,” said CAPS Collaborative Executive Director Cindy Landanno. “Given CAPS well-established PreK/elementary DHH program, it seemed like the perfect fit for us to partner with the Newton Public Schools to now provide a stable and holistic learning pathway for DHH students from PreK through grade 12.”

The Deaf and Hard of Hearing Program, which was established by EDCO in 1973, was the first high school program for the deaf and hard of hearing in the Commonwealth of Massachusetts.

The program now also includes middle school students and is located at both F.A. Day Middle School and Newton North High School. Students come to the program from Newton and surrounding towns and cities.

Within the current program, Deaf and Hard of Hearing Program students have access to challenging academic curriculum, advanced career and vocational technical training and individualized support for functional academics and independent living.

“We are thrilled to be able to continue to partner with the Newton Public Schools to operate this important program,” said Program Director Courtney Dunne.

The Pre-K through elementary program will continue to operate out of Central Massachusetts, while the middle and high school program will continue operation in Newton. Students and staff will be welcomed in Fall 2021 as part of the CAPS Collaborative community.