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Some universities are partnering with school districts to help accelerate the training of bachelor's level SLPs or provide easier pathways for graduates to work in school settings. The following are some suggestions for higher education and local district partnerships:
- Establish and maintain personal connections
- Publicize program partnerships in places where potential students can find them (e.g., college student centers, local middle and secondary schools, community colleges, and military bases)
- Look beyond high school, to para-educators, retired teachers, community college students, or local citizens who have never attended college
- Use university students as recruiters (e.g., Norfolk State University's "Adopt a School Program" places university students into schools as tutors, teacher aides, etc., to attract students)
- Involve K-12 students in after-school clubs (e.g., Ohio's Project Support-a statewide network of clubs that facilitate relationships between students with disabilities and their nondisabled peers; teachers teach students how to be assistant special education teachers)
The following are some model programs:
University of Arizona Pathways Program in Tucson is partnering with local school districts to offer graduate programs to bachelor's level practitioners in schools. The program is attempting to expand to include the other training programs in the state, and plans are under way to consider adding graduate level slots for "grow your own" students. For more information, contact Betty McDonald at bettymcd@email.arizona.edu.
University of Maryland/Montgomery County Schools (MCPS) have partnered to produce additional master's students each year. Students are selected from applicants who are committed to working in a school setting. A scholarship for selected students covers all expenses; in exchange, the student agrees to work for MCPS for 3 years after graduation. For more information, contact Colleen Worthington at cworth@hesp.umd.edu.
William Paterson University in Wayne, NJ, is developing a partnership with the Paterson School District to assist with the shortage of qualified SLPs in New Jersey. Contact Margaret Meth at methm@wpunj.edu for more information.
The University of Northern Colorado and University of Colorado-Boulder are partnering with 11 local school districts to increase the number of qualified SLPs and reduce the shortage in partner schools. The project is funded by the Colorado Department of Education. For further information, contact Karen Kelly at kelly_k@cde.state.co.us
Texas Tech University and Lubbock Independent School District Partnership; district employs junior and senior level students as "clerks" and continues to employ them as SLPAs once they achieve a bachelor's degree. The district provides a CF experience and employs the students as fully certified SLPs upon completion of the CF. For more information, contact Sherry Sancibrian at sherry.sancibrian@ttuhsc.edu
For more information on these and other innovative programs to address personnel vacancies in health care and education, visit More State-Specific ASHA Resources.
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