A school for deaf children, in Scranton, was the dream of Jacob M. Koehler, a deaf man from the area. His dream became a reality when his father's illness required that he return to the area from Gallaudet College where he was studying to be a teacher.Back in Scranton, he gathered names on a petition and approached the Scranton School Board to begin a class for Deaf children. The district hired him and set up the class in the basement of a Baptist church, beginning on Sept. 6, 1880. Jacob Koehler's class for eight deaf children marked the beginnings of the Scranton School for Deaf and Hard-of-Hearing Children (SSDHHC).

His tireless efforts to promote a full-fledged school resulted in the donation of the coal company's land upon which the school still stands, and the construction of the first building in 1889. The school, known as the Pennsylvania Oral School for Deaf Mutes was entirely housed in, what is known today as, the Superintendent's Residence. Over the years, another eight buildings have been added to the 10-acre campus.

By authority of a state legislative act approved May 8, 1913, Public Law 163, the school became property of the Commonwealth and was renamed Pennsylvania State Oral School for the Deaf. The Commonwealth assumed full control on January 20, 1916. Its purpose was to maintain and educate students and young adults with hearing loss. During the 1952-53 school year a pre-school nursery educational program was opened. A Parent-Infant Program was added in 1978 to accommodate the earlier identification of infants who are deaf or hard of hearing.

Prior to 1960, a student wanting to continue their education beyond age sixteen had to transfer to another school for the deaf or a local high school. In September of 1960, the Department of Public Instruction, approved the initiation of a secondary school program. A ninth grade course was added. An additional grade was added in each ensuing year until the culmination of the plan was achieved with graduating Class of 1964.

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