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Access Schools addresses the specific needs of school-based speech-language pathologists. This bimonthly update, designed to be informative, practical, and easy to use, will inform you of upcoming events and current trends to help you succeed in the schools.
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Headlines
ASHA Submits Comments to ED on IDEA Supplemental Proposed Rules
ASHA submitted comments to the U.S. Department of Education in response to its notice of proposed rulemaking (NPRM) that would amend the regulations in 34 CFR part 300 governing the Assistance to States for the Education of Children with Disabilities Program and Preschool Grants for Children with Disabilities Program, as published in the August 14, 2006, Federal Register. The proposed regulations affect students with communication disorders and audiologists and speech-language pathologists who provide services to these students. Members can access the full text of ASHA's comment letter on the IDEA section of ASHA's Web site. For more information, please contact Catherine D. Clarke, ASHA's director of education and regulatory advocacy, at cclarke@asha.org or 800-498-2071, ext. 5611.
ASHA Says Evidence-Based Approach Should Guide National Autism "Conversation"
ASHA has compiled information on autism in response to comments by the presidential candidates on the causes of autism.
Autism Insurance Coverage in Florida
In one of the biggest breakthroughs after a decade of labor, the Florida Association of Speech-Language Pathologists and Audiologists, along with a number of organizations and parent groups, helped secure the passage of a bill that mandates health insurance coverage for services related to autism spectrum disorders. The insurers will be required to provide screening and treatment services (speech, PT, OT and behavioral analysis services are specified) of up to $36,000 annually per eligible individual, not to exceed $200,000 in lifetime benefits. ASHA has sample legislative language available if your state is considering a campaign on this issue.
Louisiana Wins Salary Supplement
Four years ago the Louisiana legislature recognized ASHA certification as the equivalent to a National Teacher Certification; however, no money was appropriated by the legislature to pay for the salary supplement for which certified professional are eligible. Undaunted, the Louisiana Speech-Language-Hearing Association put forth appropriation requests every year and worked hard to support them. This year their efforts were rewarded—and $2.4 million was appropriated for the ASHA-certified school SLPs, who will each receive a $5,000 salary supplement in 2009! For further information on starting a salary supplement effort in your state or district, start with ASHA's new, comprehensive Advocacy Resource Guide on Salary Supplements, which includes everything from legislative success charts and personal stories to the qualified personnel state action toolkit.
North Carolina Telepractice Success
In one short year, the Telespeech Therapy Program originating at the University of North Carolina at Greensboro and serving rural school children has gone from receiving "cease and desist" orders from the state licensing board to receiving an earmark grant of more than $66,000 from the U.S. Department of Education. Persistence and education led to this project's success. If you are thinking of starting a telepractice program, begin by reviewing ASHA's technical report, Speech-Language Pathologists Providing Clinical Services via Telepractice.
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Featured Question
Q: Does ASHA have a recommendation for maximum caseload size in the schools?
A: ASHA's position statement "A Workload Analysis Approach for Establishing Caseload Standards in Schools" does not include a recommended maximum caseload number. Any arbitrary caseload maximum is inconsistent with a workload analysis approach to setting caseload standards. Setting a caseload maximum number may be misused as a caseload minimum. SLPs who work with students with high needs may be functioning at capacity yet serve significantly fewer students than an arbitrary maximum number, due to the array of intensive direct and indirect services their students need. See these resources for more information:
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Announcements
Sail Into '09 - Renew Online!
Your 2009 dues renewal is easy when you go online to ASHA's Web site. Renew online through November 30, 2008, and receive a 20% discount on all ASHA Professional Development programs purchased through ASHA's online store by December 31, 2008. (Valid on online purchases only through December 31, 2008. Memberships renewed by phone and products ordered by phone, mail, e-mail, or fax are not eligible for 20% discount. Other exclusions may apply.) To renew now using your VISA or MasterCard, please visit ASHA's secure Web site, enter your eight digit ASHA number and last name, and press the login button.
Schools Conference in Review
ASHA's 2008 Schools Conference was held in Orlando, Florida, July 25-27, with the theme of Power in Partnership. Presenters included Rick Lavoie, ASHA President-Elect Sue Hale, Barbara Ehren, Laura Justice, Sylvia Diehl, and many more experts in the field. For those who were unable to attend, the 2008 Schools Session Anthology is still available for purchase. Join us for the 2009 Conference in Kansas City, Missouri!
Launching a Great New School Year
Though kids are busy stuffing their backpacks with supplies for the new school year, Reading Rockets has packed a different sort of back-to-school bag—a virtual one filled with resources to help make Back-to-School Night, one of the most important evening events of the school year, really sparkle. This opportunity for parents and teachers to meet and connect deserves special attention and Reading Rockets has gathered ideas and materials to help plan the evening, ideas to encourage attendance and participation, resources to share with parents, and materials to help parents make the most of Back-to-School Night and set the tone for a successful school year. Reading Rockets also has reading resources for first-year teachers and tips on how to create a welcoming classroom environment for English-language learners.
National Coalition on Personnel Shortages in Special Education and Related Services Launches New Web site
(Washington DC – September 1, 2008) The National Coalition on Personnel Shortages in Special Education and Related Services announces the launch of a new Web site designed for school administrators, policymakers and professionals interested in providing assistance to students with academic, physical, emotional, and behavioral needs. The Web site includes current data on supply and demand across the special education and student services professions, certification and licensure requirements, model job descriptions, advocacy materials, and related resources. Information is geared toward administrators, school officials, policymakers, and others interested in mitigating the staff shortages in special education and related student services. For more information on the Coalition and its activities, contact Susan Karr (skarr@asha.org) at the American Speech-Language-Hearing Association or Phoebe Gillespie (phoebe.gillespie@nasdse.org) of the Personnel Center at the National Association of State Directors of Special Education.
America's Children in Brief: Key National Indicators of Well-Being, 2008
This annual report profiles the status of the nation's children and youth, presenting up-to-date federal statistics in one convenient reference. The National Center for Education Statistics of the Institute of Education Sciences is one of the 22 federal agencies that participate in the Forum and contribute to the report. The report documents that mathematics and reading scores of fourth and eighth graders have increased, but shows as well that the adolescent birth rate and the proportion of infants born at low birthweight have also risen. The report also includes indicators on child poverty, health care, housing, and at-risk behavior.
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Address comments and suggestions for future topics, information or resources to Janice Brannon or Lisa Rai Mabry-Price at AccessSchools@asha.org.
Next issue of Access Schools coming November 2008!
ASHA Take Action | SLPs in Schools (a Member Benefit) | ASHA Online Journals | DIV 1 - Language Learning & Education | DIV 16 - School-Based Issues