A bold school with a big heart.

The Albuquerque Sign Language Academy has received national acclaim as the nation’s first and only state-certified ASL/English public charter school. The ASLA is an innovation-driven learning community where deaf, hard-of-hearing, and hearing students learn, grow, and thrive together.

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What Makes ASLA Different

ASL/English  Dual Language Education

ASLA is the nation’s first and only state-certified ASL/English dual-language school. ASL is embraced as a powerful tool to unite the hearing and deaf worlds. All students work towards ASL proficiency.

Non-Residential K-12 Public Charter School

We bring deaf, hard-of-hearing, and hearing students together to learn in an inclusive, connected community.

Individualized Learning

We tailor our curriculum and instructional materials to meet each student’s needs and harness their unique abilities.

Building Connections

We offer free ASL instruction for families and community members so they can support students both inside and out of the classroom.

A new day for deaf education.

Our school is built on a foundation of love and family. In 2010, a group of families came together to envision an innovative, inclusive school that would meet their children’s needs when existing school systems couldn’t, or wouldn’t.

From humble beginnings, ASLA has grown to serve more than 160 K-12 students. In 2026, we are set to move into our brand new, state-of-the-art school building, where we will build upon our bold, innovative, compassionate model of what 21st-century deaf education can and should be.

Highlights

CNM Ethics Award Winner

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Featured by Huffpost

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Featured by Century Foundation

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YCC program funded to serve deaf, hard of hearing, and students with disabilities

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Strong Ongoing Community Presence in the Albuquerque area

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ASLA at a Glance

1 to 1

Students that use ASL as a primary language (due to DHH or other language needs) to students that use ASL to connect to the community.

95%

of students have a connection to the deaf community.

65%

of students qualify for special education services.

180

Students K-12 to age 22.

Upcoming Events

16 Sep

ASLA Board Meeting

Wednesday

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21 Oct

ASLA Board Meeting

Wednesday

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18 Nov

ASLA Board Meeting

Wednesday

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No event found!

Partnering for Innovation

With our partners at the University of New Mexico, we are leading the way in deaf and special-education reform in our state, while supporting dual-language ASL-English teacher certifications and trainings.

Together with the University of Minnesota and Penn State University, we are creating a deaf-normed reading assessment that can be used for all deaf or hard-of-hearing students across the nation.

ASLA is the only school in New Mexico to partner with Harvard’s P.E.A.R Institute in developing a system of school-embedded social-emotional programming for all students.

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Forest Service Department of Agriculture

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What They’re Saying

“I firmly believe that ASLA fosters a unique and supportive environment that brings together the deaf and hearing communities. This connection is made possible by the incredible people dedicated to helping students with disabilities realize that they can achieve anything through belief and hard work.”

– Alice Escobar, ASLA Parent

“ASLA has helped teach our children not only to communicate with deaf and hard of hearing people but has opened their eyes to a world beyond just the hearing world. Our children who have moved on from ASLA have become successful in the paths they have chosen and I know it is because of their wonderful start at this school.”

– Stormy Morgan, ASLA Parent

“Albuquerque Sign Language Academy (ASLA) is a unique transformative learning community where language, access, and belonging come together. The ASLA community is a "family" in the truest sense of the word. The commitment to bilingual education and recognition of each student's talents empowers them to thrive academically and socially. Families recognize ASLA as a place where all students are truly seen, heard, challenged, and inspired.”

– Susan Rose, Ph.D, Professor Emeritus
Department of Educational Psychology
University of Minnesota

See Why Families Choose ASLA