If you requested speech services for your child through school and were told there’s a wait, you’re not alone. Across the country, districts are short on speech-language pathologists, and the shortage got worse this year.
Here is what’s going on, and what you can do about it.
Why the wait is so long
Speech-language pathologists are in demand everywhere: hospitals, clinics, private practices, and schools. Schools have historically had a harder time competing on pay and workload, and that gap has widened.
ASHA, the national association for speech-language pathologists, has reported that roughly half of school districts have SLP vacancies they can’t fill. Some states have thousands of open school SLP positions. In many areas, the wait for a school-based speech evaluation or the start of services has stretched to six months or longer.
Meanwhile, the SLPs who remain are carrying caseloads well above what’s recommended. That means even once your child is “on the list,” sessions may be short, in groups, and less frequent than a private setting would provide.
None of this is the fault of your school’s SLP. Most of them are doing an extraordinary job under impossible numbers. But it does mean your child may not get what they need, when they need it, from school alone.
What you’re entitled to
If your child has an IEP that includes speech services, the school is legally required to provide them. A staffing shortage does not remove that obligation. If services aren’t happening, put your concern in writing to the special education director and ask for a plan, including compensatory services for missed sessions.
If your child doesn’t have an IEP yet, you can request an evaluation in writing at any time. Federal law sets timelines for how quickly the school must respond. Write the date on your request and keep a copy.
The option most parents don’t know they have
Here’s the part that surprises a lot of families: school speech therapy and private speech therapy are not either-or. Your child can receive both at the same time, and for many kids that’s the best arrangement.
Private speech therapy is a medical service, not an educational one. It’s covered by health insurance, including Medicaid, when a speech-language pathologist determines it’s medically necessary. It doesn’t depend on the school’s staffing, the school calendar, or an IEP.
For families on Medicaid, this is especially important. Federal law (a provision called EPSDT) requires state Medicaid programs to cover medically necessary speech therapy for children under 21. Virginia, Colorado, Illinois, and Louisiana all cover pediatric speech therapy under Medicaid. Families can explore online speech therapy in Virginia while they wait.
What “getting help now” actually looks like
- Keep your school request in place. Don’t withdraw it. School services are free and they’re your child’s right.
- Ask your pediatrician for a speech therapy referral. Most insurance plans want a referral or an order on file. A quick call or portal message usually does it.
- Book a private evaluation. Online providers can often evaluate within a week. The evaluation report is also useful evidence if you need to push the school.
- Start therapy while you wait. Weekly or twice-weekly sessions for a few months can make a real difference, especially for younger kids.
- When school services start, coordinate. Ask your private SLP to share goals with the school SLP. Kids do best when everyone is working on the same things.
Why online therapy works well here
Online speech therapy isn’t a compromise for most kids. Multiple studies have found that speech therapy delivered by video produces outcomes comparable to in-person therapy for articulation, language, and fluency in school-age children. For a family already juggling school, work, and a waitlist, it also removes the drive.
Sessions happen at home, after school or in the evening, with a parent nearby. The therapist coaches you on what to practice between sessions, which is where a lot of the progress actually happens.
Getting started with Stoa
Stoa Therapy provides online speech therapy for kids ages 1 to 18 in Virginia, Colorado, Illinois, and Louisiana. We accept Medicaid in all four states and most major insurance plans, and most families pay $0 to $30 per visit after insurance. We can usually schedule an evaluation within days.
If your child is on a school waitlist, don’t wait with them. Take our free 2-minute screener or reach out to schedule an evaluation.