Programs

The CAPS Deaf & Hard of Hearing (DHH) Program

History & Background

The CAPS Deaf & Hard of Hearing (DHH) Program, serving middle school and high school students, is based in the Newton Public Schools system. It is the oldest secondary level program for the Deaf in the state of Massachusetts. Founded in 1973, the program was formerly managed by the EDCO Collaborative in Bedford, Massachusetts, which closed in 2021. The Program is now operated by CAPS Collaborative, a leading provider of collaborative K-12 educational services in the state. The Collaborative currently serves 64 school districts in the state and has been in operation for 47 years. 

The program is housed in two locations in Newton: Bigelow Middle School (grades 6-8) and Newton North High School (grades 9-12). Preschool and Elementary programming is offered at Page Hilltop Elementary School in Ayer, MA. Enrollment is open to eligible students throughout the state of Massachusetts. Students are referred by local school districts, other programs for the Deaf, state agencies, hospitals, and parents/family members. To be considered for placement, the program needs to receive a full referral packet from the student’s sending school district, including their IEP, most recent evaluations, report cards and transcripts.

Educational Opportunities

Programming is designed to meet individual learning needs with a specific regard for language and communication access. The CAPS DHH Program provides services for students using American Sign Language (ASL), audition and spoken English with sign language support. Students have opportunities for small-group instruction and full inclusion in the general education setting. The program supports and accommodates your student’s primary mode of communication and their use of hearing assistive technology (e.g. hearing aids, cochlear implants, FM/DM systems, etc.) in the classroom. 

Providing meaningful learning opportunities to foster academic and social excellence, your CAPS DHH support team consists of Teachers of the Deaf, ASL/English Educational Interpreters, a Counselor, Speech Language Pathologists, Education Audiologist and Paraeducators. This specialized team works with your student to develop confidence and fundamental self-advocacy skills needed to be successful in various settings.

Extracurricular Activities

CAPS students can access the wide variety of social, recreational, athletic, and extracurricular clubs offered by Newton Public Schools. For students that use ASL, interpreters can be arranged to ensure full language access. CAPS also provides opportunities for deaf and hard of hearing students to engage socially with their DHH peers from around the region. Students regularly participate in the Gallaudet University Academic Bowl tournament, which was established to foster academic excellence, healthy competition, and sportsmanship among deaf and hard of hearing youth. Students compete in both regional and national tournaments (depending on regional performance) and compete in matches against other schools/programs for the deaf and hard of hearing. 

CAPS students in the high school offer an ASL WIN block designed to teach sign language to their hearing peers. With the support of CAPS staff, our students plan and implement weekly lessons to support ASL development in their hearing peers.

Post-Secondary Education

Each year approximately ninety-five percent of Deaf students graduating from the CAPS Program go on to post-secondary schooling at institutions such as Gallaudet University, The National Technical Institute for the Deaf at R.I.T., Boston University, California State University at Northridge, Northeastern University, Northern Essex Community College, etc. CAPS staff provide strong college preparation and counseling services.

Contact Information

To request more information about CAPS DHH Program please contact:

Dr. Courtney Dunne
Director of DHH Program
CAPS Collaborative 
Caps Email
NPS Email

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Program Description

Some departments/programs at NNHS have a classroom aide program.  The program, and the associated student responsibilities, may vary from department to department. In all cases the student and the teacher will work together closely on tasks that are helpful to the teacher and/or her students and that are educational for the student classroom aide. The student is always directly supervised by the teacher. For many students the experience is similar to a job shadow or internship.

Students do not register for “Classroom Aide” during the spring registration period. No teacher may promise an aide position to a student in the spring. To be considered as a candidate for the position of classroom aide, all interested students must complete the application/registration process through the appropriate department head in September. Department heads will pair selected students with a supervising teacher. The department head will take responsibility for working with counselors to add “classroom aide” to the student’s schedule.

A student’s other classes will not be changed to accommodate adding “classroom aide” to a student’s schedule. Classes may not be dropped or moved in order to add classroom aide to the schedule.

Students may serve as a classroom aide one to three times per week and for one, quarter, one semester, or for the full year. The number of times per week and the semester or full-year status will need to be determined before an application is approved. Changes during the year need to be approved by the supervising teacher and the appropriate department head.

Students are graded A/P/F. Students may only earn an A if they have a proposal for advanced work approved by the department head. Proposals for advanced work must be submitted to the department head by October 4th for first semester and by February 7th for second semester. The proposal must include a signature from the supervising teacher supporting the application. Please note that the proposal for advanced work is separate from the initial application process.

Credits are awarded based on the number of blocks per week. Students earn half the number of credits as a “typical” class. For example, a student who serves as a classroom aide three blocks per week for the entire year will be awarded 6 credits. This course credit is not counted toward any distribution requirements but may be counted toward the total credits required for graduation.

Application/Registration Process

1. During the spring registration period students may tell a specific teacher that they have an interest in being a classroom aide. However, students do not register for “Classroom Aide” during the spring. Note that teachers should not promise an aide position to a student in the spring. All students must go through the application process in September.

2. Once students receive their block schedules (the first day of school), they may fill out an application to be a classroom aide. (See attached.) The student submits the completed application to the department head.

3. The department head works with teachers to determine which applications to accept and which to deny. The department head approves (or denies) the application and emails the counselor asking them to add Classroom Aide to the student’s schedule.

4. The counselor completes the blue form, attaches the department head’s email to the blue form as a signature, and submits it to the Data Center for processing.

5. Note that a student’s other classes will not be changed to accommodate adding “classroom aide” to a student’s schedule. Classes may not be dropped or moved in order to add classroom aide to the schedule.

2024-2025 Application Deadlines

• Friday, October 4, 2024 for fall semester and full-year applications.
• Friday, February 7, 2025 for spring semester applications.
• Applications may be considered at other times at the discretion of the appropriate department head.

Classroom Aide Application 24-25

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