NMSD’s Instructional Programs are center based and provide a full range of instructional services for children who are eligible for services appropriate for Deaf and hard of hearing children through Individual Family Service Plans (IFSPs) Section 504 accommodations, or Individualized Education Plans (IEPs). We are located in Albuquerque, Las Cruces, and Farmington for children of preschool age. Our main Santa Fe campus serves children from 18 months through 22 years old. Parent-Infant groups are available on the Albuquerque and Santa Fe campuses. The Santa Fe campus includes residential housing for children who live too far to commute on a daily basis. All instructional and residential services are provided free of charge.
NMSD’s rigorous academic program conforms to the New Mexico State Standards and the Common Core State Standards. The programs are specifically tailored to suit each student’s unique strengths and needs through their Individualized Education Programs. NMSD believes in ongoing assessment and monitoring of each student that is tailored to each student’s learning provide.
Data-driven instruction is essential in determining a student’s strengths and needs and in determining not only the content that needs to be taught but the instructional strategies that should be used. NMSD’s teachers regularly engage students in ongoing assessment activities that are designed to inform instruction. Yearly and short-cycle assessments are also used to evaluate NMSD students’ progress.
A wide range of academic courses designed to maximize each student’s potential is provided. Students become active, engaged learners and are central in their language and communication environment with full access to both planned and incidental learning. Ongoing, clear direct communication between students and teachers as well as peer to peer communication is critical to each child’s development and this is emphasized throughout the day in various settings.
In adherence to NMSD’s Vision, Mission and Beliefs, NMSD’s bilingual program provides students with ongoing opportunities to develop a full and rich understanding of and proficiency in both ASL and English. Because literacy is the cornerstone of all learning, all students receive a language-intensive program both inside and outside the classroom so that they obtain the tools they need to achieve their goals.
NMSD has received full accreditation from two agencies: AdvancED and CEASD.