CiTi BOCES Audiology Department Secures Shineman Grant, Classroom Audio Distribution Systems

The CiTi BOCES Audiology Department has been awarded a Shineman Grant to utilize in the 2025-2026 school year. This grant will be used for the department’s Classroom Audio Distribution Systems (CADs) project, which will bring enhanced sound systems to ten K-2 (kindergarten – second grade) classrooms across Oswego County.

 

The goal of the CADs Project is to improve classroom engagement/teacher vocal health and provide valuable data to support further district-wide adoption in the future.

 

The CADs will include microphones, speakers and necessary supporting accessories. Studies such as the MARRS Project have shown that poor classroom acoustics can hinder learning and increase distractions for students, especially students who already have auditory challenges, as well as put strain on teachers’ vocal cords. At no cost to the districts, this equipment will enhance the quality of learning and engagement for participating classrooms. The use of the instructional audio system is backed by the MARRS Project, which demonstrated a reduction in special education referrals when this type of voice amplification system was used in primary classrooms. CADs have also led to improved speech intelligibility, academic performance and student behavior, according to the same study.

 

The equipment will be introduced in nine districts across Oswego County, including a CiTi BOCES classroom. Teachers will receive information about the grant, its purpose, technical trainings as well as continued support from CiTi’s Audiology Department throughout the school year. CiTi’s Audiologists will also administer pre-rollout and post-rollout questionnaires to collect teacher insight and feedback to gain understanding of the local impact of the CADs project.

 

The educational audiologists at CiTi support students of all listening abilities across all nine Oswego County school districts and school districts throughout Central New York. Using diagnostic testing, educational assessments, acoustic analysis and hearing assistance technology, they ensure students have access to communication and curriculum in diverse learning environments. CiTi’s Audiology Department travels across NY State, serving schools and performing necessary testing in their EAR-V, an audiology clinic on wheels.

 

For more information about the Shineman Grant, CADs project or CiTi’s Audiology services, visit CiTiboces.org/Audiology.