Recruiting and Retaining Qualified School-Based SLPs
About the Shortage of School-Based SLPs
Critical shortages of special education teachers and related services personnel (also referred to as specialized instructional support personnel), including SLPs, exist in all regions of the country. These shortages impede the ability of students with disabilities to reach their full academic, social, and emotional potential. Local school districts, and state and federal agencies all have an important role to play in reducing the acute shortage of the professions.
Challenges
Barriers to attracting and retaining qualified SLPs into the profession have been documented by ASHA surveys and many other external sources. The Individuals with Disabilities Education Improvement Act (IDEA 04) resulted in important changes that may affect the personnel qualifications for SLPs in school settings, which may influence how states and districts manage personnel shortages in their schools.
Recruitment Strategies
- "Grow Your Own" School-Based SLP or SLPA Programs
- Financial Incentives
- State Recruitment Initiatives
- Speech-Language Pathology and Audiology Assistant Programs
- Recruitment Sources
Retention Strategies
Additional Resources
- National Coalition for Personnel Shortages in Special Education and Related Services (NCPSSERS)
- Tools for Recruiting Future Professionals
- Related Policies, Research and Reports, Scholarly Articles, and Organizations
- Share ASHA's YouTube Videos: The Future of Audiology and Speech-Language Pathology
- National Center to Improve Recruitment and Retention of Qualified Personnel for Children with Disabilities (Personnel Improvement Center)—Practice Briefs
