How is the education of deaf and hard of hearing students funded?

• A. Local taxes only
• B. Private donations only
• C. State funds only
• D. A combination of local tax funding plus state and federal funding for disabilities

Answer: (D)

Funding for deaf and hard of hearing students in public schools comes from a mix of local, state, and federal dollars. Local property taxes typically pay for day-to-day operations, while state funds provide additional support to ensure consistency across districts. Federal funding, especially through programs for special education under IDEA, targets the extra services these students may need, such as specialized teachers, interpreters, and assistive technology. Private donations can help supplement programs, but they aren’t the foundation of public school funding. So the combination of local tax funding plus state and federal funding for disabilities best describes how these programs are financed.