In the spring of 2024, planning began for Fall 2024 launch of an innovative American Sign Language (ASL) curriculum. making Los Encinos School one of the first K-6 schools in the region without a Deaf student population to integrate ASL education into its academic program. This groundbreaking initiative reflects the school’s commitment to fostering an inclusive learning environment and equipping our students with universal communication skills that will be integrated throughout the disciplines.

Los Encinos School is partnering with experts in the field to bring the rich language and culture of the Deaf community to faculty, staff, students, and parents. Through this initiative, we aim to transform the landscape of language education at Los Encinos School, opening doors to new ways of connecting and understanding. We believe that by embracing ASL, the school can offer its students and staff an invaluable tool for personal and communal growth.

The vision for this program is more than a decade old, and the implementation was made possible with seed gifts from the Barinholtz and Silverton families.

At the close of the 2023-2024 school year, Los Encinos School continued to seek grants and donations to sustain this program and ensure its future success.