State Leaders Summit : Making a Commitment to Systems Change in Deaf Education

May 7, 8 & 9, 2007, Columbia , MD

Name of Facilitator/Presenter Lee Shiver
E-mail Address lshiver@doe.k12.ga.us

Name of Recorder Frank Nesbit
E-mail Address fnesbit@doe.k12.ga.us

This is a national issue.
Department of Education changed the funding system. Boston University has 35 students but they are not funded.
Number of Deaf Education majors is decreasing. Other professional areas are more appealing.
OSEP has money. Universities should apply for grants.
Deaf Ed students are not prepared with the foundations of education.
Need more diverse population of teachers.
Bob Hoffmeister: the "sham" of shoving interpreters into the classroom
National agenda refers to "technology" from a limited perspective.
What are we trying to produce for the school that will help our kids.
Interpreter qualifications help, but there are not enough qualified interpreters to meet the need.
Communication proficiency and highly qualified requirements vary by state.
Critical mass is about a specific mode of communication, not just all children who are deaf and hard of hearing.
Challenge is that we are trying to serve every kid in every mode that is preferred. Auditory/oral kids tend to get that approach first. We need some way of evaluating the success of this and then changing as appropriate. (Response: the federal requirements dictate this.)
Certification test is discriminatory (phonics language, etc.)

SC has Project CREATE.all special education areas supported to earn add-on certificate with service agreement.
GSU/VSU on-line add-on certification http://education.gsu.edu/onlinedeafed
Colorado is exploring growing their own teachers beginning with ASL in high school to build awareness of professions in deafness.
Stipends available for retention (staying 3 years, long commute.)
Make CED certification reciprocal across states.
Various HOUSSE options
Distance learning, video conferencing, other options.