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American Sign Language Proficiency within the Programs of WPSD

At WPSD, we place great emphasis on sign language proficiency. Receptive and expressive communication with students, staff, families and members of the deaf community is essential to our mission and vision.

Sign Language Proficiency is a requirement for employment at WPSD, SSDHHC, and all of our numerous umbrella programs throughout the state. The Sign Language Proficiency Interview: American Sign Language (SLPI:ASL) Program has been utilized at WPSD for over 20 years. The SLPI:ASL evaluation tool provides for a uniform and transparent mechanism ensuring all staff members achieve and maintain the level of signing skills required for each respective position. Positions that work directly with students (Teachers, Residential Supervisors, Administrators, etc.) must achieve the most stringent signing level per the SLPI:ASL rating mechanism. Currently, approximately 90% of teachers at the schools have met or exceeded their SLPI:ASL rating of Advanced or higher. At hire, teachers are required to meet the minimum level of “Intermediate,” and have two years to achieve the “Advanced” level. Interviews and raters are all native-like signers, ensuring rating classifications are measured accurately with the SLPI:ASL specifications.

The Human Resources Specialist provides each staff member with the interview results. Feedback, including strengths and areas of needed improvement are highlighted. The Human Resources Specialist and respective department supervisors practice feedback, potential resources and deaf culture experiences to assist staff in meeting their required level of proficiency within a limited time frame. Each job category is assigned a minimum and maximum fluency requirement at hire. At hire, all job categories are assigned time frames in which sign fluency must be achieved. At hire, employees are aware that their specific level of fluency must be obtained within a specified time frame or their employment will be terminated. Regardless of their job classification, all employees are required to sign in all public areas to the best of their abilities at all times. Signs are posted throughout campus reminding staff of this important policy.

WPSD, SSDHHC, and our umbrella programs are the largest private employer of Deaf and Hard of Hearing staff in the entire state of Pennsylvania. Our schools employ more than 80 Deaf and Hard of Hearing employees in Administrative, Teaching, Counseling, Teacher Aides, Residential, Transportation, Housekeeping and Maintenance positions. We are committed to hiring qualified Deaf and Hard of Hearing to serve as role model to our students. If you’re interested in working in either WPSD or the Scranton School, please visit our website at: www.wpsd.org orwww.thescrantonschool.org. Thank you!