School Advocacy Resources
Success Stories
Learn how school-based speech-language pathologists (SLPs) have successfully advocated for improved conditions in their districts.
- Building an Advocacy Win for More School Resources (The ASHA Leader)
- Collaborating to Battle Emergency Permits for School SLPs (The ASHA Leader)
- Collaborating With Colleagues to Build an Advocacy Win in Schools (The ASHA Leader)
- Use Resources to Build an Advocacy Win in Schools(The ASHA Leader)
State Advocacy
State Education Advocacy Leaders (SEALs) – Appointed by ASHA-recognized state speech-language-hearing associations, SEALs advocate on education issues, including caseload/workload, salary supplements, and maintenance on personnel standards. SEALs is one of the ASHA State-Based Advocacy Networks.
ASHA State-by-State – state requirements and contact information, hot topics, trends, and advocacy resources.
State Association Workload Advocacy Survey Template – State association leaders can survey their members about workload challenges using this state workload survey template.
The Role and Benefits of State Consultants [PDF] – this one-page summary from SEACDC highlights the influence and support offered by state consultants including professional development opportunities, technical assistance, support for recruitment and retention and to serve as a liaison between agencies, organizations, and professionals.
Caseload and Workload
Caseload and Workload – learn the difference between caseload and workload as it relates to serving students and maintaing a mangageble balance. Tools to help you advocate:
- ASHA Workload Calculator – Weekly, monthly, and telepractice worksheets and workload analysis tools to identify workload responsibilities for your caseload.
- Template letter to your administrator [DOC] – Use to request a meeting to go over data from the workload calculator, highlight results, and identify next steps to address workload successes and challenges.
State Caseload Chart [PDF] – Caseload guidance from states, including contacts and links to state regulations.
Schools Survey – See data from the survey on employment, caseload and workload sizes, areas of intervention, and workload responsibilities.
NEA Backgrounder: Special Education Workload Analysis Model [PDF] – Framework to adapt to the changing responsibilities of special education service providers.
Negotiating for Improved Working Conditions, Salaries, and Funding
Engaging With Teacher Unions and Education Associations – learn how working with teacher unions can support your advocacy for improved working conditions.
- Working for Change: A Guide for Audiologists and Speech-Language Pathologists in Schools – Strategies on how to negotiate with school unions/associations and school administrators to advocate for identified individual and local needs.
- Advocacy Template Letters [PDF] – These template letters are designed to support SLPs in communicating with unions and school district administrators when advocating for stipends for the supervision of graduate students and/or clinical fellows.
- Advocating for Change [PDF] – This step-by-step resource guides you through the process of advocating for improved working conditions in your school. Steps include analyzing the potential for change, identifying stakeholders and support, forming committees, making connections and developing an action plan.
- Appropriate School Facilities for Students With Speech-Language-Hearing Disorders – Minimum requirements for creating optimal learning and assessment environments for students.
Increasing Salaries in the Schools – Information on advocating for higher salaries and additional benefits with school unions and administrators.
- Salary Supplement Initiative – Steps to advocate for a salary supplement through state legislation and regulation as well as through local district initiatives.
- School Funding Advocacy – Tools to identify and understand the complex and multiple funding processes involved in public school–based services from federal, state, and local perspectives.
Working with Culturally, Linguistically, or Gender Diverse Students
IDEA Part B: Culturally and Linguistically Diverse Students – Federal regulation that supports service delivery that recognizes cultural and linguistic diversity.
Supporting and Working with Transgender and Gender-Diverse People – Guidance on appropriate practices when working with transgender and gender-diverse people.
Working with Culturally and Linguistically Diverse (CLD) Students – this collection of resources from ASHA's Office of Multicultural Affairs offers policy documents, guides, and tips for addressing the needs of CLD students in schools.
