California School for the Deaf, Fremont

The California School for the Deaf, Fremont is a school for deaf children in Fremont, California. They educate deaf children from all over Northern California.

Its companion school in Southern California is CSD-Riverside.

School History
The California School for the Deaf was founded in 1860 and was the first special education program established in California. Begun in San Francisco, the first class had three students. In 1869, the school moved to a new campus in Berkeley, with approximately fifty students. A vocational component was added to the curriculum in 1871. Also that year the Literary Society, a student organization which still exists today, was founded to encourage students to discuss literature, prepare lectures and debates. In 1885 the school's first newspaper was printed - The Daily News - later to become the California News, which is still published weekly. By 1915 the school's enrollment had grown to 215 students and the campus was enlarged for the second time. Boy Scout Troop #11 was formed in 1916, which continues today as one of the oldest continuous troops in the U.S. In 1921, a California School for the Deaf student became one of the first Eagle Scouts in the United States. In 1930, a 32-year building program was initiated to restore and again expand the Berkeley campus. In 1934, a teacher training program was established on the Berkeley campus in conjunction with San Francisco State College as Superintendent Elwood Stevenson believed that only teachers with special training should be credentialed to teach deaf and hard of hearing children. Dr. Stevenson also emphasized that since language is the core of the deaf child's education, teaching of written language would begin in the child's first year of schooling.

A Cub Scout program was established for 9-11 year old boys in 1941. Campfire girls followed in 1945. The Campfire girls were a "mainstreamed troop" with CSD students and Berkeley High School students participating together. By 1945, the school housed 320 students with overflowing capacity, with 175 applicants seeking admission. Not all could be accommodated due to lack of space. In 1950, the Association of Parents, Teachers and Counselors was established to support the 345 students in enrollment. In 1953 six Troop 11 Boy Scouts attended the National Boy Scout Jamboree the first time that deaf scouts participated with hearing scouts from around the world. CSDB's Campfire Girls received national recognition in 1955 when five students received the highest honor of that organization, the rank of Social Leadership.

In 1964, the U.S. Department of Education named CSDB as its Northern California depository for distribution of Captioned Films. The Computer-Assisted Instruction program began in 1969 as a result of an invitation by Standford University to participate in a nation-wide project. Also in 1969 the first academic mainstreaming program began with five CSD students taking world history and geometry at Albany High School. Our student population now numbers 496, and a parent education program has been established to provide support, information, and education for parents of deaf students.

In 1970, the California School for the Deaf officially adopted the philosophy of total communication. That same year the Instructional Television class was taught for the first time. In 1973, CSD was giving accreditation for its secondary program by the Western Association of Secondary Schools and Colleges, and was granted accreditation for both the elementary and secondary programs by the Convention of Educational Administrators Serving the Deaf(CEASD). An annual student leadership conference, whose purpose is to further the development of leadership skills in high school students, was begun in 1974, with annual retreats to Asilomar Training Facilities on the Monterey Peninsula. Also in 1974 the Campfire Girls program was discontinued in favor of a Girl Scout program to have more continuity between the girls' and boys' scouting programs.

Dr. Henry Klopping was appointed Superintendent in 1975, and he formed a Student Advisory Council in 1976 and Community Advisory Council in 1978. In 1975, the Special Unit program was established for deaf multi-handicapped students. Also, in 1976, the first deaf students participated in the national "Close-Up" program, which brought high school students to Washington, D.C. to see the process of government first hand.

In 1977, with an enrollment of 481 students, ground was broken in Fremont for the new campus. Enrollment rose to 518 in 1978, the same year the annual new student/parent orientation program was established.

In 1979, the Northern California Assessment Center was established on the campus of CSDB to provide services to local school districts in the assessment of deaf children. The same year, when a state law required that all high school students pass a test of minimum standards before graduation, CSDB took the leadership in establishing standards for deaf students.

The 1980-81 school year began at the new campus in Fremont with an enrollment of 527 students. Over 90% of CSD's parents participated in their children's IEPs that year, which is a remarkable record when it is realized that students reside in 44 counties and some parents must travel as much as 6 or7 hours to get to Fremont.

Along with the introduction of Dr. Henry Klopping as new Superintendent of CSD came a new city and a new era. Dr. Klopping believed strongly in the need of the community to be informed regarding the educational needs of the deaf, so he began a new Community Education program with Leo Jacobs as its coordinator. This later became the Outreach Division. Housed under Outreach were both the Parent Education and the Community Education programs. This now is expanded to include Family Education, Community Education, the Volunteer Program, technical assistance to school districts, publishing of the California News, scheduling of facilities and the Educational Resource Center on Deafness through Gallaudet University.

On June 1st of 1977, groundbreaking ceremonies were begun for the new 96-acre site for what would become the California School for the Deaf and the California School for the Blind, in Fremont. On September 2nd, 1980, Dr. Klopping welcomed the returning staff to their new Fremont location. At the Grand Opening of the school on May 25th, 1980, over three thousand people attended the event to view the new grounds on Fremont's Gallaudet Drive. This "new city" was a great opportunity for a "new era". The Volunteer Program started with the Division of Outreach and Training in 1980. It has grown to 175+ volunteers to date. They contribute immeasurable time and valuable skill in all facets of our students' education and campus life. That same year the Northern California Assessment Center was established on the campus of CSD to provide services to local school districts in the assessment of Deaf children.

Up until this time, children were able to enroll at CSD starting at the age of five. Realizing that language development skills, positive self esteem and the need for Deaf role models needed to start at a younger age, a pre-school program was established. This now enabled CSD to serve Deaf students from birth to 21. A program was started to respond to the needs, concerns and questions of the parents. This program later renamed the Early Childhood Education Department, would expand to include home visits, parent support groups, playgroups, parent/family workshops and potlucks, ASL classes, speech/listening and audiological services, a parent library, and an ASL consultant.

Along with the new directions the school was embarking on, there was still the need to honor its historical past. In tribute to the generosity of the Levi Strauss family and their continuing support of the California School for the Deaf, the Bell Tower Committee was established in 1986 to construct a new home for the historic bell donated almost a century ago. Historical artifacts, including photographs and memorabilia, were collected from previous graduating classes. Some had been stored since the early Berkeley days. Now these would all become a part of the History Museum preserving the cultural heritage precious to all. Through dedication and personal commitment, the museum's volunteers continue to reconstruct all the legacies of CSD.

Part of Deaf history and our own was the explosion of the Deaf President Now movement at Gallaudet. CSD students, staff and community friends joined a supportive rally by marching around Fremont, then back to CSD. (This would later become "Deaf PAH Day", an annual event at CSD.)

CSD's most recent history is filled with cultural advances and student opportunities. Curriculum Days invite Deaf speakers and community leaders to entertain and broaden students' perspectives regarding educational opportunities, the world-at-large and the struggles of minorities in America. Through the Career Center, students are offered vocational training, career guidance services, a career exploration class, on and off-campus job placement, and services from the Department of Vocational Rehabilitation.

The school is becoming more and more of a resource. It offers completely accessible communication and Deaf role models are bountiful, as over 50% of its staff are Deaf. All staff members are required to be fluent in American Sign Language. Signing is required at all times on campus. The atmosphere anywhere on campus is one of great possibilities for all who come through, student, teacher, parent, alumni and staff.

Education
Education at CSD Fremont is based on a Bi-Bi philosophy which encourages the deaf students to learn in American Sign Language and English at the same time. The majority of the staff is deaf, with most being graduates of Gallaudet University.

CSD's Academic Bowl team has won Gallaudet University's National Academic Bowl twice, in 1998 and 1999, tying them with Model Secondary School for the Deaf for most championships. The team took second place at the West Regional Academic Bowl in Tucson, Arizona, in February 2007, putting them in the 2007 National Bowl. At the April 2007 National Bowl at Gallaudet, they finished near the middle of the pack.

Athletics
CSD Fremont is a member of Bay Counties League - East. The Eagles compete in baseball, basketball, cross country running, football, track and field, softball, swimming, volleyball, and wrestling. Their colors are orange and black. CSD also owns the most Deaf Prep National Championships since moving to Fremont in 1980.