Kenneth Burdett School, Ogden
The Kenneth Burdett School of the Deaf (KBS) is located on the Ogden Campus and serves students who are deaf or hard of hearing across northern Utah, including Davis and Morgan counties and extending north to the state lines. KBS currently serves approximately 85 students, providing educational services for children and young adults from age 3 (Preschool) through age 22 (Post-High Adult Transition).
KBS is a bilingual educational program that provides instruction in American Sign Language (ASL) and English, ensuring full access to learning, communication, and academic participation.
Educational Programs & Services
The Kenneth Burdett School of the Deaf offers a wide range of educational opportunities designed to meet the individualized academic, social, and transition needs of each student. Programs are based on appropriate assessments and placement decisions to support student success.
KBS provides a comprehensive range of related services, including speech-language services, audiology, and other supports as determined by each student’s Individualized Education Program (IEP) team.
Our educational environment:
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Encourages the development of a positive self-concept
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Challenges students to reach their highest potential
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Supports growth across academic, social, and functional life skills
KBS provides:
- Specialized classrooms on the Ogden Campus
- Structured mainstreaming opportunities in collaboration with the local school district
Partner Schools & Mainstreaming Opportunities
KBS is uniquely positioned directly across the street from partner elementary, middle, and high schools within the Ogden School District. This close physical proximity allows for intentional, supported transitions between KBS and mainstream educational settings.
When appropriate, students may attend classes at partner schools while remaining enrolled at KBS. This proximity:
- Supports gradual and flexible transitions into mainstream environments
- Allows participation in general education courses, electives, and extracurricular activities
- Enables seamless coordination between KBS staff and partner school teams
Students participating in mainstream classes are provided with ASL interpreting services and additional supports as needed to ensure full access to instruction and curriculum.
Post-High Adult Transition Program
Post-high school students focus on developing the skills necessary for a successful transition to adulthood, including employment readiness, independent living, and community participation.
Students may access:
- Employment training at the Ogden-Weber Technical College (OTECH), where they can work toward trade certificates
- On-site job training with local businesses and community partners
- Students also participate in on-the-job training experiences with various local employers.
Residential (Cottage) Program
For students who live too far from campus to commute daily, KBS offers a residential cottage program that functions as an instructional extension of the school day, when appropriate.
The cottages are designed as learning-based environments, where students receive direct instruction and guided practice in real-world contexts that support their academic, transition, and post-school goals. Instruction emphasizes community-based learning and the development of skills needed for increased independence.
Students in the residential program engage in instruction focused on:
- Community-based instruction and participation
- Independent living and daily life skills
- Social communication and self-advocacy
- Organization, time management, and personal responsibility
The residential program is closely aligned with students’ IEPs and transition plans and is intended to support school-to-community connections in a structured, educational context. Placement is determined through an individualized team decision-making process based on student needs and instructional goals.
The residential program reflects a community-based instructional model similar in philosophy to CORE, adapted to meet the developmental and instructional needs of middle school, high school, and post-high school students.
Faculty and Staff
KBS is supported by a dedicated team of professionals committed to student success.
Our staff includes:
- Outreach teachers serving deaf and hard-of-hearing students across northern Utah
- Certified and licensed Teachers of the Deaf in classroom settings
- Trained para-professional staff
- Job coaches
Together, our faculty and staff collaborate to provide high-quality instruction, transition planning, and individualized support services for students and families.
Office Location:
USDB Ogden Campus
742 Harrison Blvd.
Ogden, Utah 84404
801-629-4751 (Voice)
385-244-4373 (VP)
Educational Director
James Smith
jamess@usdb.org
