Understanding the Critical Role of Speech-Language Pathologists in Schools

Speech-language pathologists (SLPs), commonly known as speech therapists, serve as indispensable members of educational teams across the United States. Approximately 56% of certified SLPs work in educational settings, making schools the largest employment sector for this profession. These dedicated professionals work tirelessly to support students who face communication challenges, helping them develop the skills necessary for both academic achievement and meaningful social connections.

The impact of speech-language pathologists extends far beyond simple speech correction. They conduct screenings, provide therapy in individual and group settings, collaborate with teachers and families, develop IEPs, and work within federal IDEA guidelines to support student communication development. Their multifaceted role positions them as essential contributors to student success, working at the intersection of healthcare and education to ensure every child has the opportunity to communicate effectively.

In 2012, 7.7% of children aged 3–17 years had a communication disorder during the past 12 months, highlighting the significant need for speech-language services in educational settings. This prevalence underscores why schools must prioritize access to qualified speech therapists who can identify, assess, and treat these disorders before they impact long-term academic and social outcomes.

Comprehensive Services Provided by School-Based Speech Therapists

Assessment and Diagnosis

School SLPs conduct universal screenings to identify at-risk students who may need further evaluation. When concerns arise, they perform comprehensive diagnostic evaluations to determine the nature and severity of communication disorders. This proactive approach ensures that students receive timely intervention, which is critical for positive outcomes.

The assessment process involves multiple components, including standardized testing, observation in natural settings, and collaboration with teachers and parents to gather comprehensive information about a student's communication abilities. Speech therapists evaluate various aspects of communication, from basic sound production to complex language comprehension and social communication skills.

Treatment of Communication Disorders

School-based speech-language pathologists address a wide range of communication challenges that can significantly impact a student's educational experience. Approximately 85% of school-based SLPs work with children who have language disorders, 75% work with articulation and phonological speech sound disorders, 35% with autism spectrum disorders, and 25% with fluency disorders. This diversity of caseloads requires SLPs to maintain expertise across multiple areas of communication disorders.

Articulation and Phonological Disorders: These disorders affect how students produce speech sounds. Children with articulation problems may substitute, omit, or distort specific sounds, making their speech difficult to understand. Speech therapists work on helping students correctly produce these sounds through targeted exercises and practice activities.

Language Disorders: Language disorders can be receptive (difficulty understanding language) or expressive (difficulty using language to communicate). Students with language disorders may struggle with vocabulary development, grammar, following directions, or organizing their thoughts to express ideas clearly. These challenges can significantly impact academic performance across all subject areas.

Fluency Disorders: Stuttering and other fluency disorders affect the rhythm and flow of speech. Speech therapists help students develop strategies to improve fluency, reduce tension during speaking, and build confidence in communication situations.

Voice Disorders: Problems with pitch, volume, or quality of voice can result from various causes, including vocal abuse or medical conditions. SLPs assess voice disorders and provide therapy to help students develop healthy vocal habits.

Social Communication Challenges: Many students, particularly those with autism spectrum disorders, struggle with pragmatic language skills—the social rules of communication. Speech therapists help these students understand nonverbal cues, take turns in conversation, stay on topic, and adjust their communication style to different situations.

Service Delivery Models

Many school SLPs provide a combination of pull-out therapy, push-in classroom support, teacher consultation, and co-teaching to meet individual needs while maximizing time in general education settings. This flexible approach ensures that students receive appropriate support while minimizing disruption to their academic schedule.

Pull-out therapy involves working with students individually or in small groups outside the classroom, allowing for focused intervention on specific communication goals. Push-in services bring the speech therapist into the classroom to support students within the natural learning environment, helping them apply communication skills in real-world academic contexts. Consultation and co-teaching models enable SLPs to collaborate directly with classroom teachers to modify instruction and create communication-rich learning opportunities for all students.

The Profound Impact of Speech Therapy on Student Success

Academic Achievement

Communication skills form the foundation of academic learning. Students must understand spoken and written language, express their knowledge, and engage in classroom discussions to succeed academically. When communication disorders go untreated, they can create significant barriers to learning across all subject areas.

Approximately 30% to 60% of affected children continue to experience challenges in reading and spelling throughout their schooling, demonstrating the long-term academic impact of untreated communication disorders. Speech therapy intervention helps students develop the language skills necessary for literacy development, reading comprehension, written expression, and overall academic performance.

Research demonstrates compelling outcomes for students who receive speech therapy services. 79% of children and young people improved in one or more areas in association with speech and language therapy, including communication skills, well-being, and participation in daily activities such as education or social activities. These improvements translate directly into better classroom performance, increased participation, and enhanced learning outcomes.

Social and Emotional Development

Communication difficulties can profoundly affect a child's social relationships and emotional well-being. Students who struggle to express themselves or understand others may experience frustration, social isolation, and reduced self-esteem. These challenges can lead to behavioral issues, reluctance to participate in class, and withdrawal from peer interactions.

Speech therapists address these social-emotional aspects by helping students develop effective communication strategies, build confidence in their abilities, and navigate social situations successfully. As students improve their communication skills, they typically experience increased self-confidence, better peer relationships, and greater willingness to participate in classroom activities and social interactions.

The social benefits of speech therapy extend beyond the school environment. Students who receive effective intervention develop communication skills that serve them throughout their lives, supporting future educational pursuits, career opportunities, and personal relationships.

Long-Term Outcomes and Return on Investment

The economic case for speech therapy services in schools is compelling. Economic analyses suggest that every dollar spent on early intervention speech therapy for children yields between $7 and $12 in future savings through reduced special education costs, improved academic outcomes, and enhanced vocational potential. This substantial return on investment demonstrates that speech therapy services are not merely a cost but a valuable investment in students' futures.

Early intervention is particularly crucial. Timely receipt of intervention services is shown to be effective for treatment of communication disorders, and addressing communication challenges during the school years can prevent more serious academic, social, and vocational difficulties later in life. Students who receive appropriate speech therapy support are better positioned for success in higher education and the workforce.

Collaboration: The Key to Effective Speech Therapy Services

Working with Teachers and Educational Staff

In schools, they evaluate students for speech and language disorders and work with teachers, other school personnel, and parents to develop and carry out individual or group programs, provide counseling, and support classroom activities. This collaborative approach ensures that communication goals are reinforced throughout the student's school day, not just during therapy sessions.

Professionals who work in speech language pathologist jobs can help teachers adapt their instructional methods to ensure that their classroom is inclusive for students with communication challenges. SLPs can also advise teachers on incorporating communication-enhancing activities into their curriculum. This consultation role extends the impact of speech therapy beyond individual students to benefit entire classrooms.

Speech therapists provide teachers with practical strategies for supporting students with communication disorders in the classroom. These might include modifications to instruction, visual supports, alternative ways to demonstrate knowledge, and techniques for facilitating peer interactions. Most importantly, SLPs can educate teachers on signs they should look for that may indicate a student is struggling with a speech or language disorder, enabling early identification and intervention.

Family Engagement and Support

Parents and caregivers play a critical role in supporting their children's communication development. Speech therapists work closely with families to ensure that therapy goals are reinforced at home and that parents understand their child's communication needs and progress.

Family collaboration includes regular communication about therapy goals and progress, training on strategies to support communication at home, and guidance on how to create language-rich environments that promote communication development. When families are actively engaged in the therapy process, students make greater progress and maintain their gains more effectively.

Research on valued outcomes of school-based speech therapy reveals that families and educators have different but complementary priorities. Families focused on school-based services meeting all needs appropriately and coordinating care, while educators highlighted supporting individual student needs in context. By contrast, speech-language therapists emphasized building capacities and supporting core educational goals. Understanding these different perspectives helps SLPs provide services that address the priorities of all stakeholders.

Interdisciplinary Team Collaboration

SLPs are increasingly viewed as essential members of interdisciplinary teams, collaborating with occupational therapists, physical therapists, teachers, nurses, and physicians. This team-based approach recognizes that students' needs are multifaceted and that effective support requires coordination among various professionals.

Speech therapists participate in multidisciplinary evaluations, contribute to individualized education program (IEP) development, and coordinate with other service providers to ensure comprehensive support for students with complex needs. This collaborative model enhances the quality and effectiveness of services while promoting holistic student development.

The IEP Process and Legal Framework

Understanding IDEA and Speech-Language Services

The Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA) data reveals that speech or language impairments constitute the second most common disability category in special education, representing approximately 19% of all students receiving special education services. This significant percentage highlights the critical role of speech-language pathologists in special education services.

Under IDEA, students with communication disorders that adversely affect their educational performance are entitled to receive speech-language services at no cost to their families. These services are provided as part of a free appropriate public education (FAPE) and are documented in the student's individualized education program (IEP).

Developing Effective IEPs

Speech-language pathologists play a central role in the IEP process for students with communication disorders. They conduct comprehensive evaluations to determine eligibility for services, develop measurable goals and objectives based on assessment results, and provide input on appropriate accommodations and modifications.

Develop and implement individualized treatment plans aligned with IEP goals is a core responsibility of school-based SLPs. These plans must be specific, measurable, achievable, relevant, and time-bound (SMART), ensuring that progress can be effectively monitored and documented.

IEP goals for speech-language services might address articulation accuracy, vocabulary development, sentence structure, comprehension of complex language, social communication skills, or fluency. The speech therapist regularly monitors student progress toward these goals and adjusts intervention strategies as needed to ensure continued growth.

Documentation and Accountability

School-based speech therapists maintain detailed documentation of their services, including evaluation reports, progress notes, attendance records, and data on student performance. This documentation serves multiple purposes: demonstrating accountability for services provided, tracking student progress over time, informing instructional decisions, and ensuring compliance with federal and state regulations.

Documentation and compliance requirements consume significant time in school settings. Many experienced SLPs develop efficient progress-monitoring systems, use templates for common IEP goals, and advocate for workload models that include dedicated time for paperwork and meetings. Effective documentation systems help SLPs manage their responsibilities while maintaining focus on direct service delivery.

Addressing Diverse Student Populations

Cultural and Linguistic Diversity

According to the National Center for Education Statistics, almost 10 percent of U.S. students are learning English as a second language. In states like California, that percentage exceeds 20 percent. This linguistic diversity presents both opportunities and challenges for school-based speech-language pathologists.

The challenge extends beyond language barriers to distinguishing between true communication disorders and standard second-language acquisition patterns or dialectal differences. Speech therapists must have specialized knowledge and skills to accurately assess and serve students from diverse linguistic and cultural backgrounds, ensuring that typical patterns of second language acquisition are not misidentified as disorders.

Culturally responsive practice requires SLPs to consider students' home languages, cultural communication norms, and family values when conducting assessments and planning interventions. This might involve using interpreters, conducting assessments in the student's native language, considering cultural differences in communication styles, and involving families in culturally appropriate ways.

Students with Complex Needs

Many students receiving speech-language services have complex needs that extend beyond communication disorders. Students with autism spectrum disorders, intellectual disabilities, cerebral palsy, hearing loss, or other conditions often require specialized approaches and intensive support.

Speech therapists working with these populations must have expertise in augmentative and alternative communication (AAC) systems, assistive technology, and specialized intervention approaches. They collaborate closely with other professionals and families to develop comprehensive support plans that address students' unique needs and maximize their communication potential.

Serving Students Across All Grade Levels

SLPs provide appropriate speech-language services in Pre-K, elementary, middle, junior high, and high schools with no school level underserved. The nature of speech-language services evolves as students progress through school, with intervention goals and approaches adapted to match developmental stages and academic demands.

Preschool and early elementary services often focus on foundational skills like articulation, basic vocabulary, and sentence structure. As students advance, intervention increasingly addresses more complex language skills needed for academic success, such as understanding figurative language, making inferences, organizing written expression, and using language for higher-level thinking and problem-solving.

For adolescents, speech therapy may focus on skills needed for transition to post-secondary education or employment, including professional communication, self-advocacy, and functional communication in real-world contexts.

Current Trends and Innovations in School-Based Speech Therapy

Telepractice and Technology Integration

Current statistics suggest that approximately 30% of speech therapy services continue to be delivered via telepractice, even as in-person options have become widely available again following the pandemic. Telepractice has proven to be an effective service delivery model that can increase access to services, particularly in rural or underserved areas.

Technology integration extends beyond telepractice to include digital assessment tools, therapy apps, interactive software, and data management systems. These technological innovations can enhance engagement, provide additional practice opportunities, facilitate progress monitoring, and streamline administrative tasks.

However, technology must be implemented thoughtfully. Speech therapists must ensure that technology enhances rather than replaces the therapeutic relationship, that all students have equitable access to technological resources, and that privacy and data security are maintained.

Evidence-Based Practice

The field of speech-language pathology increasingly emphasizes evidence-based practice—the integration of research evidence, clinical expertise, and client preferences to guide intervention decisions. School-based SLPs stay current with research on effective intervention approaches and apply this knowledge to their practice.

Evidence-based practice involves critically evaluating research literature, selecting interventions with demonstrated effectiveness, monitoring student progress using objective measures, and adjusting approaches based on data. This systematic approach ensures that students receive the most effective interventions available and that resources are used efficiently.

Response to Intervention (RTI) and Multi-Tiered Systems of Support (MTSS)

Many schools have adopted RTI or MTSS frameworks that provide tiered levels of support to all students. Speech-language pathologists contribute to these frameworks at multiple levels, from universal screening and prevention activities that benefit all students, to targeted interventions for at-risk students, to intensive individualized services for students with significant needs.

This tiered approach allows SLPs to serve more students efficiently while ensuring that those with the greatest needs receive intensive support. It also promotes early identification and intervention, preventing minor difficulties from developing into more significant disorders.

Focus on Literacy and Academic Language

The connection between oral language skills and literacy development is well-established. Speech-language pathologists increasingly focus on supporting literacy development, recognizing that communication skills form the foundation for reading and writing success.

SLPs address phonological awareness, vocabulary development, narrative skills, and comprehension strategies—all critical components of literacy. They collaborate with reading specialists and classroom teachers to provide integrated support that addresses both oral and written language skills.

Challenges Facing School-Based Speech-Language Pathologists

Caseload and Workload Management

Recent statistics indicating that the average school-based SLP manages between 40-60 students with communication disorders highlights the significant demands placed on these professionals. Large caseloads can make it challenging to provide adequate individual attention to each student and to maintain the frequency and intensity of services needed for optimal outcomes.

In 2025, many SLPs cite high caseloads, limited prep time, and documentation burdens as contributors to burnout. Addressing these challenges requires systemic changes, including appropriate staffing levels, workload models that account for all aspects of the SLP's role, and administrative support for efficient service delivery.

Workforce Shortages

Employment of speech-language pathologists is projected to grow 15 percent from 2024 to 2034, much faster than the average for all occupations. While this growth reflects increasing recognition of the importance of speech-language services, it also highlights workforce challenges. Schools face particular shortages in rural areas and specific regions. Many districts offer signing bonuses, relocation assistance, or loan repayment programs to attract qualified candidates.

Addressing workforce shortages requires multiple strategies, including increasing enrollment in graduate programs, providing financial incentives for students entering the field, offering competitive salaries and benefits, creating supportive work environments, and developing career pathways that retain experienced professionals in school settings.

Balancing Compliance and Best Practice

School-based speech therapists must navigate complex regulatory requirements while maintaining focus on providing effective, student-centered services. Compliance with federal and state regulations, district policies, and professional standards requires significant time and attention, sometimes creating tension with clinical priorities.

Effective SLPs develop systems and strategies for managing compliance requirements efficiently, advocate for policies that support best practice, and maintain focus on student outcomes as the ultimate measure of success.

Professional Qualifications and Continuing Education

Educational Requirements

Speech-language pathologists typically need at least a master's degree in speech-language pathology. All states require that speech-language pathologists be licensed. Licensure requirements vary by state but typically include clinical experience and passing an exam. This rigorous educational preparation ensures that SLPs have the knowledge and skills necessary to provide effective services.

Graduate programs in speech-language pathology include coursework in anatomy and physiology, linguistics, communication disorders, assessment and intervention techniques, and professional issues. Students complete extensive clinical practicum experiences under supervision, developing competence across diverse populations and settings.

Certification and Licensure

Most school-based speech-language pathologists hold the Certificate of Clinical Competence (CCC-SLP) from the American Speech-Language-Hearing Association (ASHA), the national professional organization for the field. This certification requires completion of an accredited graduate program, supervised clinical experience, and passing a national examination.

In addition to ASHA certification, SLPs must obtain state licensure to practice. Some states also require specific educational credentials or certifications for SLPs working in schools. These multiple credentialing requirements ensure that school-based SLPs meet high professional standards.

Ongoing Professional Development

The field of speech-language pathology continually evolves as new research emerges and best practices develop. Professional speech therapists engage in ongoing continuing education to maintain their certifications and stay current with advances in the field.

Professional development opportunities include conferences, workshops, online courses, journal reading, and participation in professional learning communities. Many SLPs pursue specialized certifications or advanced training in specific areas such as autism, AAC, or literacy to enhance their expertise and better serve their students.

Creating Inclusive and Supportive Learning Environments

Universal Design for Learning

Speech-language pathologists contribute to creating inclusive learning environments by promoting Universal Design for Learning (UDL) principles. UDL involves designing instruction and materials that are accessible to all students, including those with communication disorders, from the outset rather than requiring individual accommodations.

SLPs help teachers implement UDL by providing multiple means of representation (presenting information in various formats), multiple means of engagement (offering choices and varied ways to participate), and multiple means of expression (allowing students to demonstrate knowledge in different ways). These approaches benefit all students while specifically supporting those with communication challenges.

Promoting Communication-Rich Classrooms

Effective speech-language services extend beyond individual therapy sessions to transform entire classroom environments. SLPs work with teachers to create communication-rich classrooms where all students have opportunities to develop and practice communication skills throughout the school day.

Strategies for promoting communication in classrooms include incorporating collaborative learning activities, using visual supports and graphic organizers, providing explicit instruction in academic vocabulary, creating opportunities for structured peer interaction, and modeling effective communication strategies. When these approaches are embedded in daily instruction, all students benefit, and those receiving speech therapy have more opportunities to practice and generalize their skills.

Supporting Social Inclusion

Students with communication disorders are at risk for social isolation and peer rejection. Speech-language pathologists play an important role in promoting social inclusion by helping students develop the communication skills needed for successful peer interactions and by educating classmates and school staff about communication differences.

Social skills groups, peer buddy programs, and classroom-based social communication interventions can help students with communication disorders build friendships and feel connected to their school community. When schools prioritize social inclusion, students with communication challenges are more likely to participate fully in school activities and develop positive self-concepts.

Measuring Outcomes and Demonstrating Impact

Progress Monitoring and Data Collection

Effective speech therapy requires systematic progress monitoring to ensure that interventions are working and to make data-based decisions about treatment. Speech-language pathologists use various methods to track student progress, including standardized assessments, curriculum-based measures, language samples, and observational data.

Regular progress monitoring allows SLPs to identify when students are making expected progress, when intervention intensity needs to be increased, and when goals have been achieved. This data-driven approach ensures accountability and maximizes the effectiveness of services.

Outcome Measures That Matter

All school community members agreed that current assessment tools and outcome measures were inadequate to capture the most important impacts of school-based services. This recognition has led to increased focus on measuring outcomes that truly matter to students, families, and educators.

Important outcomes extend beyond standardized test scores to include functional communication in real-world contexts, participation in classroom activities, social relationships, self-advocacy skills, and quality of life. Measuring these broader outcomes requires multiple methods and perspectives, including input from students, families, and teachers.

Demonstrating Value to Stakeholders

Speech-language pathologists must effectively communicate the value of their services to administrators, school boards, and other stakeholders who make decisions about resource allocation. This requires collecting and presenting data on student outcomes, documenting the impact of services on academic achievement and social-emotional development, and articulating how speech therapy supports broader educational goals.

When SLPs can demonstrate clear connections between their services and important outcomes like improved reading achievement, reduced behavioral incidents, and increased graduation rates, they strengthen support for speech-language programs and ensure that students continue to have access to needed services.

The Future of School-Based Speech-Language Pathology

Expanding Roles and Responsibilities

School-based speech-language pathology is at a crossroads where SLPs seek to contribute significantly to the well-being and success of children and adolescents in schools as ever-increasing demands are placed on them with an expanded scope of practice. It is essential that SLPs' roles and responsibilities be redefined in light of substantive changes that have taken place in schools, as well as in the discipline of speech-language pathology.

The role of school-based SLPs continues to evolve, with increasing emphasis on prevention, consultation, and systems-level change in addition to direct intervention. Future SLPs will likely spend more time coaching teachers and parents, contributing to school-wide initiatives, and using technology to extend their reach and impact.

Addressing Emerging Needs

Schools face new challenges that require speech-language pathology expertise, including increasing numbers of students with autism spectrum disorders, growing awareness of social communication needs, and recognition of the language demands of college and career readiness standards. SLPs must continue to develop expertise in these emerging areas to meet evolving student needs.

Additionally, the impact of technology on communication, changing family structures, and increasing diversity in schools all create new considerations for speech-language services. Successful SLPs will be those who can adapt to changing contexts while maintaining focus on core principles of effective communication intervention.

Advocacy and Leadership

Speech-language pathologists must serve as advocates for students with communication disorders and for the profession itself. This includes educating policymakers about the importance of communication skills for academic success, advocating for appropriate caseload sizes and working conditions, and promoting policies that support access to high-quality speech-language services for all students who need them.

Leadership opportunities for school-based SLPs include serving on school improvement teams, leading professional development for colleagues, participating in research and program evaluation, and mentoring new professionals entering the field. As SLPs take on leadership roles, they increase the visibility and impact of the profession while contributing to broader educational improvement efforts.

Practical Strategies for Maximizing Speech Therapy Impact

For Administrators

School administrators can support effective speech-language services by ensuring appropriate staffing ratios, providing adequate space and materials for therapy, including SLPs in decision-making processes, and recognizing the full scope of SLP responsibilities when determining workload. Creating a supportive environment for speech-language services benefits students and helps retain qualified professionals.

Administrators should also facilitate collaboration between SLPs and classroom teachers, provide time for consultation and co-teaching, and support professional development opportunities that keep SLPs current with best practices. When speech-language services are well-integrated into the school's overall educational program, their impact is maximized.

For Teachers

Classroom teachers can enhance the effectiveness of speech therapy by communicating regularly with SLPs about student needs and progress, implementing recommended strategies in the classroom, and creating opportunities for students to practice communication skills throughout the school day. Teachers who understand the connection between communication skills and academic learning are better positioned to support all students, including those receiving speech therapy.

Teachers should also be alert to signs of communication difficulties and make timely referrals for evaluation. Early identification and intervention significantly improve outcomes, and teachers are often the first to notice when students are struggling with communication.

For Parents and Families

Parents play a crucial role in supporting their children's communication development. Families can maximize the impact of speech therapy by attending IEP meetings and staying informed about therapy goals, practicing strategies at home, reading with children regularly, engaging in conversations that build vocabulary and language skills, and maintaining open communication with the speech therapist.

Parents should also advocate for their children's needs, ask questions when they don't understand something, and share information about their child's communication at home. The partnership between families and speech therapists is essential for student success.

Resources and Support for Speech-Language Services

Numerous resources support high-quality speech-language services in schools. The American Speech-Language-Hearing Association (ASHA) provides professional standards, practice guidelines, continuing education, and advocacy for the profession. State speech-language-hearing associations offer local networking, professional development, and support for school-based practitioners.

Professional journals, online communities, and educational websites provide access to current research, intervention materials, and practical strategies. Many universities offer consultation services, and commercial publishers provide assessment tools and therapy materials designed specifically for school-based practice.

School districts can also access support through educational service agencies, state departments of education, and professional organizations. These resources help ensure that speech-language pathologists have the tools, knowledge, and support they need to provide effective services.

Conclusion: The Indispensable Role of Speech Therapists in Education

Professional speech-language pathologists serve as essential members of educational teams, providing critical services that enable students with communication disorders to access education, develop relationships, and reach their full potential. Their expertise in assessment, intervention, collaboration, and advocacy makes them indispensable contributors to student success and school improvement.

The evidence is clear: speech therapy works. Students who receive appropriate services show significant improvements in communication skills, academic achievement, social relationships, and overall quality of life. The return on investment in speech-language services is substantial, with early intervention preventing more serious difficulties and reducing long-term costs.

As schools continue to evolve and student needs become increasingly complex, the role of speech-language pathologists will only grow in importance. By supporting these professionals with adequate resources, reasonable caseloads, collaborative opportunities, and ongoing professional development, schools can ensure that all students with communication disorders receive the high-quality services they need and deserve.

The commitment of speech-language pathologists to helping every student find their voice—literally and figuratively—creates more inclusive, supportive, and effective learning environments. Their work touches not just individual students but entire school communities, fostering understanding, promoting communication, and ensuring that every child has the opportunity to participate fully in the educational experience. For more information about speech and language development, visit the National Institute on Deafness and Other Communication Disorders.

Investing in speech-language services is investing in students' futures, in educational excellence, and in creating schools where every child can succeed. As we look to the future of education, the role of professional speech therapists will remain central to achieving the goal of providing every student with the communication skills they need to thrive in school and beyond.