Mission

CID's mission is to teach children who are deaf and hard of hearing to listen, talk, read and succeed. We partner with families and collaborate with universities, educators and other professionals worldwide to help children communicate to achieve their fullest potential.

Educational Philosophy

Since its founding in 1914, CID has demonstrated that, regardless of how severe their hearing impairment, children can learn to speak and understand the speech of others when early and appropriate education is provided. Today, cochlear implants and digital hearing aids, combined with listening and spoken language educational techniques, are enabling more children to learn to listen, talk, read and succeed academically.

CID prepares students to attend their neighborhood schools. CID teachers and audiologists help children gain the best possible benefit from today's rapidly changing technologies. We offer a language-rich, assessment-based educational program individualized to help every child achieve success.

We believe parents are a child's first teachers. Giving them exactly the help they need to begin to work with their children at home is the focus of CID's Joanne Parrish Knight Family Center. The program also features a daily nursery class for  toddlers. Parents have regular opportunities to attend educational presentations and become part of a support network. Parental involvement is crucial at every level and continues throughout all testing and educational activities.

CID’s pre-k provides a balanced mix of intensive speech and language instruction and age-appropriate play time.Our program is designed to achieve developmental milestones and promote early literacy skills. Our Peer Program incorporates students with normal hearing in certain classes to encourage natural interaction and social skill development. Emerging literacy and pragmatic skills are emphasized. The dynamic, whole child pre-k curriculum is adapted from the mainstream. The program focuses on developing speech, language and auditory skills as well as pre-math and pre-reading skills, including alphabet knowledge, phonological awareness and print awareness.

For our 5- to 12-year-old primary department students, our philosophy is to build a foundation for success in education and in every area of life. CID teachers weave speech, language and listening instruction into a mainstream academic curriculum. The children receive instruction in reading, writing, math, science and social studies. Our comprehensive program includes gym, art and music, health and growth, a social skills curriculum, computer instruction and activities ranging from tennis and basketball to photography and dance.

Children leave CID when they are ready to enter classes with hearing children in their home communities. They play sports, compete on debating teams, serve on student councils, participate in social events, dance, act in plays and do almost everything their hearing peers can do. Many pursue higher education and professional careers. Learn about some of the achievements of our CID school alumni

Accreditation and Awards

The CID school program is accredited by the Missouri Department of Elementary and Secondary Education and the Illinois State Board of Education. The CID Joanne Parrish Knight Family Center is an approved Parents as Teachers site. CID Family Center Staff are credentialed providers for the First Steps program in Missouri and the Child and Family Connections program in Illinois.

In competition with elementary schools across the country, CID has twice earned a national award for excellence in education from the U.S. Department of Education. This award-winning program has been replicated in other schools. In May of 2006, CID received a FOCUS-St. Louis "What's Right With the Region!" Award for Creating Quality Educational Opportunities.

CID teachers are fully accredited by the Council on Education of the Deaf (CED). CID continuing education workshops are accredited by the American Speech-Language-Hearing Association (ASHA). CID is an approved Illinois State Board of Education provider of professional development activities.

In 2009, Charity Navigator gave CID its highest 4-star ranking, indicating that CID executes its mission in a fiscally responsible way that outperforms most other U.S. charities.

The CID school building was constructed with "quiet school" technology to meet the educational needs of deaf children. The building received a  Regional Excellence Award from St. Louis Construction News and Review and a Construction Keystone Award for Partnering Excellence from the Associated General Contractors of St. Louis. In 2001, the Landmarks Association of St. Louis named the CID campus one of the city's Eleven Most Enhanced Sites. In November of 2003, the CID school received an Impact on Learning Award from School Planning and Management magazine