The National Association of the Deaf filed comments with the U.S. Office of Special Education Programs and Rehabilitation Services (OSERS) about the IDEA Part B State Performance Plan and Annual Performance Report indicators. The filing urges federal officials to modernize these indicators so they measure meaningful outcomes for Deaf students, not just procedural compliance or placement numbers.

These resources are available in both video and PDF formats. Watch the videos on this page, or open the PDFs using the links below. The first resource explains the OSEP Indicator system in plain language. The second resource highlights NAD’s comments on Indicator #5, Least Restrictive Environment, and explains why placement data alone does not show whether Deaf and Hard of Hearing students have true language access, communication access, qualified educators, Deaf peers, and meaningful educational opportunity.

Together, these resources explain why Deaf education accountability must look beyond where a student is placed and ask whether the student has full access to language, learning, communication, and community.