Are you a chapter leader? Check out this handout on what every chapter leader should know about speech teachers.
Extended Day
What is an appropriate use of the extend day (37 1/2 minutes) for speech teachers? Why can't they do “mandated speech therapy” during this time?
Speech teachers can be used for small group tutoring, working on reading or phonemic awareness in smaIl groups. They can also be asked to provide “supplemental speech services” that are not IEP mandated. The chapter won an arbitration to disallow speech teachers from providing an extra session of therapy during the 37 1/2 minutes.
Some speech teachers work on reading comprehension, auditory processing, ELA or listening skills during the extended day. Speech teachers can also be asked to provide speech and language screenings but not complete evaluations.
In District 75, members may provide mealtime instruction or work on augmentative communication such as communication boards or devices.
Some principals have allowed speech teachers to use the 37 1/2 minutes for doing SESIS encounter attendance to collect Medicaid funds for the DOE.
Testing Time
What administrative time is given to speech teachers for testing students for triennials, reevaluations and writing progress reports and IEPs?
In middle and high schools they have five administrative periods a week for evaluating students for triennials and re-evaluations, doing progress reports, assessing students using the Speech Standards of Practice and writing IEPs. In the high schools they may be asked to do an initial speech and language evaluation. In the elementary schools, they get only one testing period a week for assessment. This is in writing from the DOE in a progress report memo.
Speech teachers should receive the equivalent administrative and prep time as all of the other teachers in the school.
Coverages
Are speech teachers allowed to be assigned coverages and when can they be done?
Speech teachers can only be assigned coverages during a preparation period if they are not working their preparation periods for “shortage area compensation.” They cannot be forced to cancel mandated sessions or switch their schedules for school coverages. An emergency is an unforeseen circumstance such as a “snow storm or unusual event,” not practice tests, training or standardized tests. We have won several grievances and special education complaints on this issue.
If assigned school coverage, it must be rotated among the entire staff, not just the related service providers. This information is in writing from two chancellors and was in the “principal's weekly.”
Shortage Area Compensation (Article 7O)
Are speech teachers allowed to voluntary work on their preparation periods for shortage area compensation? Are they required to do this work?
Yes, speech teachers may choose to work during their preparation periods (see # 3) but cannot be forced to do so. They can apply for compensation through the chancellor's shortage area memo any time during the school year when students cannot fit into the providers' schedule. They can apply to give up one to five preps and the money is pro-rated and is pensionable.
Waitlisted Students and Evaluations
How do students get recommended for speech therapy in the schools? Who should be contacted if they do not get these services?
The DOE forced all speech evaluators back into the schools to provide direct services several years ago. This has caused great backlogs in recommendations for evaluations. Evaluations are now done per session, and many are “contracted out” and are done by independent providers. If a student does not get evaluated in a timely fashion, a speech supervisor should be contacted and a special education complaint should be filed. No parent should pay for outside evaluations or told that they cannot be done.
Materials and Supplies
Are speech teachers included in the budget for therapy supplies, tests and materials?
Yes, speech teachers should get supplies for therapy, tests and other school-related material. They should receive the equivalent of other teachers in their school. Tests may cost over $600 to purchase independently so principals should be using funds to order materials and tests.
Ratings, Tenure and Evaluations
Who rates and grants tenure to speech teachers in the schools? What about the Danielson model for evaluation?
The principals signs the rating sheets and, in conjunction with the speech supervisor, grants tenure. Most observations should be provided by the speech supervisor for content area but any administrator in a school can do an observation. The principal should not be using the Danielson Framework since it is only for classroom teachers. Our speech chapter is providing citywide workshops in all five boroughs for speech teachers on getting tenure and creating portfolios.