The paper documents the "failure" of deaf education and proposes a model program for the education of deaf children. Reasons given for this failure include lack of linguistic access to curricular content and the cycle of low expectations. Early acquisition of American Sign Language (ASL) is encouraged both to develop cognitive skills and improve the child's ability to learn English. Twelve principles of the proposed model educational program include: sign language as the first language of deaf children, separation of sign and spoken language in the curriculum, second language (English) learning through reading and writing; and the least restrictive environment as one in which deaf children acquire a natural sign language and thus, access to spoken language and curriculum content. Program components include: (1) Family Support Program (assisting children and families in language learning); (2) Family-Infant-Toddler Program (organized activities and training to foster ASL acquisition and socio-emotional development); (3) a preschool-kindergarten curriculum designed to prepare the children for the regular primary school; (4) a grades 1-12 component taught in such a way as to enable deaf students to acquire the regular curriculum; (5) a Child Development Center providing day-care and developmental experiences for children through the third grade; (6) an administration, research and development component; and (7) a component focused on materials and resources development. (DB)