Summary: Pursuant to a congressional request, GAO presented information on the costs and operations of Gallaudet College, the Model Secondary School for the Deaf, Kendall Demonstration Elementary School, and the National Technical Institute for the Deaf.
GAO found that, from 1981 to 1984, Gallaudet had a considerable number of unoccupied beds in its dormitories. In the fall of 1984, the Secondary School was below its student enrollment capacity, whereas the Technical Institute exceeded its designated capacity. Compared with similar types of schools serving students with hearing disabilities, Gallaudet's and the Technical Institute's: (1) costs per student in school year 1981-1982 were considerably higher; (2) student-faculty ratios in school year 1981-1982 were considerably lower; and (3) average annual faculty compensation in school year 1983-1984 was lower. Excluding its unique research and demonstration costs, the Secondary School's cost per student was similar to those of state residential schools for the deaf. In school year 1983-84, 23 percent of the Technical Institute graduates received their degrees from other colleges for students with hearing disabilities.
