Title: Speech-language Pathologists Employed by a School District

Summary: Providing requirements for the caseloads of speech-language pathologists employed by a school district; requiring school districts to use certain student counts to determine caseloads, etc.

Full Text:
An act relating to speech-language pathologists employed by a school district; creating s. 1012.441, F.S.; providing requirements for the caseloads of speech-language pathologists employed by a school district; providing a weighted calculation methodology for such caseloads; requiring school districts to use certain student counts to determine caseloads; requiring each school district to develop and implement a district-wide workload plan for such speech-language pathologists; providing workload plan requirements; providing an effective date. Be It Enacted by the Legislature of the State of Florida: Section 1. Section 1012.441, Florida Statutes, is created to read: 1012.441   Student caseload limitations and calculations and workload plans for speech-language pathologists working in public schools.  (1)   A speech-language pathologist, licensed under s. 468.1185, who is employed full-time by a school district shall provide speech-language therapy services to no more than the equivalent of students with disabilities in prekindergarten; students with disabilities in kindergarten through grade 5; and students with disabilities in grades through 12. The following weighted methodology shall be used to determine the number of students for each speech-language pathologist s caseload, and must be included in the school district s workload plan under subsection (2): (a)   A student with a speech or language impairment as his or her primary exceptionality who is receiving minutes or more of speech-language therapy per week is equal to 1.6 on the weighted scale. (b)   A student with a speech or language impairment as his or her primary exceptionality who is receiving to minutes of speech-language therapy per week is equal to 1.3 on the weighted scale. (c)   A student with a speech or language impairment as his or her secondary or other exceptionality who is receiving speech-language services in the general education setting is equal to 2.0 on the weighted scale. (d)   A student with a speech or language impairment as his or her secondary or other exceptionality who is receiving speech-language services through direct instruction in a resource setting or cluster site is equal to 3.0 on the weighted scale. (e)   A prekindergarten student receiving speech-language services in a voluntary prekindergarten education program or inclusion class is equal to 2.0 on the weighted scale. (f)   A prekindergarten student receiving speech-language services in a self-contained class is equal to 2.5 on the weighted scale. (g)   A student receiving speech-language services for consultation is equal to 0.2 on the weighted scale. Each school district shall determine each speech-language pathologist s caseload using the February FTE count for students enrolled in speech-language therapy from the previous school year. (2)   Each school district shall develop and implement a district-wide workload plan for speech-language pathologists employed by the school district. Such plan must be based on an analysis of the activities for which the speech-language pathologists are responsible and, at a minimum, must include: (a)   Individualized instruction and interventions. (b)   Consultation services and collaboration among staff members. (c)   Attendance at individual education plan meetings and other staff conferences, as appropriate. (d)   Required documentation and reporting. (e)   Student diagnostic activities. (f)   Medicaid billing and related activities. (g)   Response to student interventions. Section 2. This act shall take effect July 1, 2018.