Reverend Jacob Koehler established the school in 1880.[4] In 1913, by authority of a state legislative act, the Commonwealth took control of the school renaming it the Pennsylvania State Oral School for the Deaf. It was subsequently renamed the Scranton State School for the Deaf in 1976.
The passage of the Education for All Handicapped Children Act in 1975 by the federal government categorized state-operated schools as SSSD as not as preferred compared to local school districts providing education for the deaf. SSSD superintendent James Fricke stated that this could make the school unviable.[5]
In 1979 consultant Dr. Neal V. Musmano argued that SSSD should add a junior college department that grants associate degrees.[6]
In 2009 Governor of PennsylvaniaEd Rendell proposed a budget which would remove all funding for the school. Area state representatives opposed this.[7]
Times Leader argued that lawmakers should study carefully the merits of the institution and whether it should be closed before making a decision.[8]
Campus
The campus school is in the Green Ridge portion of Scranton and had 10 acres (4.0 ha) of space.[7]
Demographics
In 2009 the school had 107 students and 75 employees.[7]
Campus
This section needs expansion. You can help by adding to it. (May 2021)
This section needs expansion. You can help by adding to it. (June 2021)
By 1979 the school had two computers for deaf education, with each worth $150,000. They had basic mathematics and reading comprehension programs for elementary students and higher levels for secondary and adult students.[10]
By 1979 the school launched an early intervention program to detect hearing loss in infants, called the Parent-Infant program.[11]
Extracurricular activities
Scranton State School for the Deaf athletic teams, known as the Bears, compete in basketball, softball, cross country, soccer, and cheerleading in Pennsylvania Interscholastic Athletic Association and Eastern Schools for the Deaf Athletic Association competition.
Notable alumni
This section is empty. You can help by adding to it. (July 2010)
Former superintendents
Dr. Victor H. Galloway (1979-1981)
Dr. Dorothy S. Bambach (1988 - 2006)
Dr. Monita Hara (2007–2009) - Hara criticized the closure of the school and resigned to avoid getting suspended in retaliation.[12]
^"Home". Scranton State School for the Deaf. 2007-08-27. Archived from the original on 2007-08-27. Retrieved 2021-06-26.
^Hall, Sarah Hofius (2009-06-10). "Last class graduates from SSSD". The Times-Tribune. At the end of the month, the state will transfer control of the school to the private Western Pennsylvania School for the Deaf, a move that will save the state about $2 million next year. After high school classes and residential programs end following the 2009-10 school year, those students will be given the option to attend school at WPSD's Pittsburgh campus.
^Gannon, Jack. 1981. Deaf Heritage–A Narrative History of Deaf America, Silver Spring, MD: National Association of the Deaf, p. 46-47 (PDFArchived 2012-03-28 at the Wayback Machine)(PDFArchived 2012-03-28 at the Wayback Machine)
