Clarke Schools for Hearing and Speech

What Clarke Schools for Hearing and Speech does

Clarke Schools for Hearing and Speech is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization founded in 1867 and headquartered in Northampton, Massachusetts, that delivers Listening and Spoken Language (LSL) education and related clinical services to infants, children, and adults who are deaf or hard of hearing. The organization operates four physical school locations along the East Coast (Northampton and Canton, Massachusetts; Philadelphia, Pennsylvania; New York City; Jacksonville, Florida) and a national Teleservices virtual delivery platform that is being transitioned into a more comprehensive integrated service model. In FY25, Clarke served 759 students across its programs and supported 2,467 audiology patients through the Clarke Hearing Center in Northampton, with 87% of preschool graduates successfully entering mainstream kindergarten.

The core service portfolio spans early intervention (Birth to Age Three), preschool and early elementary programs (including an Integrated Preschool option), school-age Mainstream Services, Auditory/Speech/Language therapy, Comprehensive Educational Evaluations, Summer Services, support groups, and audiology services. The underlying methodology is LSL pedagogy layered onto modern hearing technology — hearing aids and cochlear implants — rather than any proprietary technology platform Clarke builds. The organization is staffed by LSLS-certified professionals and reports a 96% teacher retention rate.

Clarke provides its educational programs at no cost to families and operates on a philanthropic and earned-services revenue model. There is no direct tuition revenue; instead, the organization relies on philanthropic contributions (FY25 total contributions of $2.3M across 1,812 gifts, a 22% year-over-year increase), corporate partnerships and event sponsorships, planned giving and estate planning, Pennsylvania EITC Program funding, and earned revenue from the Clarke Hearing Center's audiology services. The stated "$5,000+ per child annual funding gap" signals that federal, state, and local government funding covers only a portion of program costs, with philanthropy closing the rest. Clarke is governed by an independent Board of Trustees and structured across three related nonprofit entities (Clarke School for the Deaf, Clarke Pennsylvania Inc., Clarke School for Hearing and Speech Florida Inc.).

Name

Clarke Schools for Hearing and Speech

Legal name

Clarke Schools for Hearing and Speech

Website

https://clarkeschools.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

1867

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

251–500 employees

Short description

Clarke Schools for Hearing and Speech is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit founded in 1867 that provides Listening and Spoken Language education and audiology services to deaf and hard-of-hearing children and adults at four East Coast schools and via a national Teleservices platform.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Deaf and Hard of Hearing Education Services

NAICS

Educational Support Services (611710), Elementary and Secondary Schools (611110), Child and Youth Services (62411)

SIC

Services-Educational Services (8200), Services-Misc Health & Allied Services, Nec (8090)

akta.pro primary industry

Deaf/Hard of Hearing & Vision Services (Audiology, Interpreting, Orientation & Mobility) (EDAJAKAI)

akta.pro secondary industries

Speech & Language Therapy (Early Intervention) (EDACAFAB), Preschool Programs within Private K–12 Schools (EDACABAM), Speech Sound Disorders (Articulation/Phonology) Intervention (EDAKAEAD)

Keywords

• Deaf education services
• Listening spoken language
• Pediatric audiology services
• Early intervention programs
• Hearing loss education

Headquarters

HQ city

Northampton

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices5 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D, Infrastructure

Revenue model

1. Philanthropic Contributions and Fundraising: FY25 marked Clarke's most successful fundraising year since expansion to four school locations. Total contributions surpassed $2.3 million, a 22% increase compared to FY24, with 1,812 gifts received. Fundraising is vital due to limited federal, state, and local funding.
2. Audiology Services (Clarke Hearing Center): Comprehensive hearing health services through the Clarke Hearing Center in Northampton, MA, supporting patients of all ages with hearing assessments and technology options.

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels8 records

Core offering

Clarke Schools for Hearing and Speech delivers educational and therapeutic services for children who are deaf or hard of hearing using the Listening and Spoken Language (LSL) methodology, combined with audiology services through the Clarke Hearing Center. Programs span early intervention, preschool, and school-age support, delivered at four East Coast schools and virtually via Teleservices, all provided at no cost to families and supported by philanthropic funding.

Product overview

Clarke Schools for Hearing and Speech offers a comprehensive continuum of listening and spoken language (LSL) services delivered at four school locations along the East Coast and virtually via Teleservices. The portfolio includes early intervention programs for infants and toddlers (Birth to Age Three), preschool programs (Preschool/Early Childhood, Preschool/Early Elementary, Integrated Preschool), school-age programs including Mainstream Services and Comprehensive Educational Evaluations, audiology services through the Clarke Hearing Center, and Teleservices for remote delivery. Programs support children from infancy through teens, with a 87% kindergarten mainstream placement rate, serving 759 students and 2,467 audiology patients in FY25.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Birth to Age Three Program Early intervention program for infants and toddlers who are deaf or hard of hearing, providing individualized support and family coaching to begin their listening and spoken language journey.
• Teleservices (tVisit) Virtual delivery of listening and spoken language services enabling remote care for families and individuals across the country, currently being transitioned into a more comprehensive integrated model.
• Clarke Hearing Center Expert audiological care facility in Northampton, MA dedicated to fostering lifelong listening and spoken language development, providing hearing assessments and technology options for patients of all ages (2,467 patients served in FY25).
• Auditory, Speech and Language Services Therapeutic services focused on developing auditory processing, speech articulation, and language skills for children with hearing loss.
• Preschool / Early Childhood Program Customized program for preschool-aged children who are deaf or hard of hearing, supporting readiness for transition into mainstream kindergarten (87% successfully enter mainstream after completing the program).
• Preschool / Early Elementary Program Educational program supporting young children with hearing loss as they transition from preschool into early elementary school settings.
• Integrated Preschool Program Preschool program integrating children who are deaf or hard of hearing with peers who have typical hearing, promoting inclusive learning environments.
• Mainstream Services Support services enabling school-age children who are deaf or hard of hearing to succeed in mainstream classroom environments alongside typically hearing peers.
• Comprehensive Educational Evaluations (CEE) Program Comprehensive educational assessments for school-age students to evaluate listening, speech, language, and academic skills to guide intervention planning.
• Summer Services Intensive summer programs providing continued listening and spoken language therapy and enrichment during school breaks.
• Support Groups Peer and family support groups providing emotional support, shared experiences, and resources for families navigating hearing loss.
• Audiology Services Comprehensive hearing health services provided through the Clarke Hearing Center, offering audiological care for individuals of all ages with hearing loss to maximize access to sound.

Quantifiable outcome

• 87% of students successfully entered mainstream kindergarten after completing Clarke's Preschool Programs
• +3 more outcomes

Named customers1 record

Segments5 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Integration10 records

Feature2 records

Partnerships

15 partnerships are on record, tiered minor and core.

• Advanced BionicsminorGTM or Marketing PartnerSponsor of Cocktails with Clarke New York event. Advanced Bionics is a hearing technology company that manufactures cochlear implant systems.
• Valent Asset ManagementminorGTM or Marketing PartnerSponsor of Cocktails with Clarke New York event.
• Columbia University Medical CenterminorGTM or Marketing PartnerSponsor of Cocktails with Clarke New York event.
• ReSoundminorGTM or Marketing PartnerSponsor of Cocktails with Clarke New York event. ReSound is a hearing technology company providing hearing aids and audio solutions.
• AudicusminorGTM or Marketing PartnerSponsor of Cocktails with Clarke New York event. Audicus is a hearing technology company.
• WSFS BankminorGTM or Marketing PartnerSponsor of Clarke's Listening Walk at the Zoo event.
• Children's Hospital of Philadelphia (CHOP)minorGTM or Marketing PartnerSponsor of Clarke's Listening Walk at the Zoo event.
• CochlearminorGTM or Marketing PartnerSponsor of Clarke's Listening Walk at the Zoo event. Cochlear is a global hearing technology company specializing in cochlear implants.
• BellewminorGTM or Marketing PartnerSponsor of Clarke Runs on Dunkin event.
• ARSminorGTM or Marketing PartnerSponsor of Clarke Runs on Dunkin event.
• Boston MutualminorGTM or Marketing PartnerSponsor of Clarke Runs on Dunkin event.
• RedballminorGTM or Marketing PartnerSponsor of Clarke Runs on Dunkin event.
• Harvard PilgrimminorGTM or Marketing PartnerSponsor of Clarke Runs on Dunkin event.
• Dillard'scoreGTM or Marketing PartnerPartner for Hear Me on the Runway fashion show event. Dillard's professional team organizes the children's fashion show with Clarke students and alumni modeling.
• Global Foundation For Children With Hearing LossminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerInternational partner for professional exchanges. Clarke Education Support Specialist Sherri Fickenscher was invited to offer expertise during a training event in Kenya organized and funded by this foundation.

Scale indicators9 records

Recent moves7 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Others

• Oberkotter Foundation: Private foundation funding listening and spoken language programs and professional development nationally. Comparable as a funder and convenor within the same LSL ecosystem Clarke operates in, including professional training pipeline partnerships.
• AG Bell Association for the Deaf and Hard of Hearing: National membership and advocacy organization promoting hearing technology and listening and spoken language for deaf/hard of hearing children. Comparable as a key LSL ecosystem participant and certifier of LSLS professionals on Clarke's staff.

Direct peers

• John Tracy Center: Los Angeles-based nonprofit providing listening, spoken language, and family support services to deaf and hard of hearing children across all age groups. Closest direct peer to Clarke given overlapping LSL methodology, family-centered model, and similar age-range coverage.
• Hearts for Hearing: Oklahoma City-based nonprofit providing listening and spoken language therapy and audiology services to children with hearing loss. Comparable in service mix (LSL therapy + audiology) and patient population, anchored in a single regional market with family support programming.
• American School for the Deaf: The oldest existing school for the deaf in the United States, providing educational services to deaf and hard of hearing children. Comparable in mission and population served, though it operates primarily in Connecticut using a broader communication philosophy that overlaps with Clarke's specialty education remit.
• The Listen Foundation: Denver-area nonprofit providing auditory-verbal therapy and LSL services to children who are deaf or hard of hearing. Comparable in methodology and age cohort, with similar fundraising-based revenue model and parent coaching focus.

Broad incumbents

• Minnesota State Academy for the Deaf: State residential school in Faribault, Minnesota serving deaf and hard of hearing students from infant through high school. Comparable in specialized K-12 service population but publicly funded and using total communication rather than LSL-only methodology.
• Texas School for the Deaf: State-funded residential school in Austin, Texas serving deaf and hard of hearing students from birth through age 22. Comparable in population and K-12 service focus, but public/state-funded rather than nonprofit and using broader communication approaches than Clarke's LSL specialization.
• National Technical Institute for the Deaf (NTID at Rochester Institute of Technology): Federally funded college within RIT providing technical and career education to deaf and hard of hearing students. Comparable in mission population but operates at higher education level and is government-supported rather than donor-supported.
• Gallaudet University: Federally chartered university serving deaf and hard of hearing students in Washington, DC. Comparable in population served and disability-focused mission, though at the post-secondary level rather than Clarke's birth-through-school-age focus.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/clarkeschools
• YouTubevimeo.com/clarkeschools
• Facebookfacebook.com/clarkeschools
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/clarke-school-for-hearing-and-speech
• Instagraminstagram.com/clarkeschools

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles12 records

Subsidiaries3 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Clarke Schools for Hearing and Speech