Meeting the critical shortage of speech-language pathologists to serve the public schools - Collaborative rewards

    Authors

    L. I. Rosa-Lugo; E. A. Rivera;S. W. McKeown

    Comments

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    Abbreviated Journal Title

    Lang. Speech Hear. Serv. Sch.

    Keywords

    speech-language pathology; teacher certification; teacher recruitment; teacher shortage; federal legislation; higher education; personnel needs; Linguistics; Rehabilitation

    Abstract

    This article presents a collaborative approach to providing graduate education to speech-language pathologists who are employed in public school districts. A partnership called the Central Florida Speech-Language Consortium was established among the University of Central Florida, 10 Central Florida school districts, and community agencies to address the issue of the critical shortage of speech-language pathologists in the public schools. The consortium program provided bachelor-level speech-language pathologists in the public schools the opportunity to obtain a master's degree while they continued to work in the schools. Key innovations of the program included: (a) additional graduate slots for public school employees; (b) modifications in the location and time of university courses, as well as practica opportunities in the schools; and (c) the participation and support of public school administrators in facilitating supervision and practicum experiences for the consortium participants. The consortium program resulted in an increase in the number of master's level and culturally and linguistically diverse speech-language pathologists available for employment in the public schools of Central Florida. Recommendations for facilitating future endeavors are discussed.

    Journal Title

    Language Speech and Hearing Services in Schools

    Volume

    29

    Issue/Number

    4

    Publication Date

    1-1-1998

    Document Type

    Article

    Language

    English

    First Page

    232

    Last Page

    242

    WOS Identifier

    WOS:000076623800005

    ISSN

    0161-1461

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