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You Should Know - Speech Improvement
Evaluations
As a rule, speech teachers do not have the time to provide complete initial evaluations at their schools.
Help for new speech teachers
Suggestions for getting started as a new speech teacher.
Know your rights
New speech teachers have many questions. Here are some of the issues you have raised at meetings, with answers that should help you understand your rights and responsibilities.
Professional periods
There are often questions about our Professional Activities/Administrative Duties — Article 6R — and speech teachers. You should choose “performing student assessment activities (triennial and reevaluations) and writing IEPs” during your professional activities.
Retention and excessing rights
Speech teachers have seniority and excessing rights in their schools. Members cannot be moved from a school unless there is a compelling reason for the excessing situation. If there is more than one speech teacher in the school, the senior teacher in license has the right to remain at the school.
School coverages
In the past our chapter has received some special education complaints about speech teachers/providers doing class coverages. Requiring speech teachers to cancel mandated therapy sessions to cover another teacher’s class deprives students of services and should be reported on a special education complaint. In certain circumstances, it may also be grieved.
Shortage area
If you have “unserved” or “underserved” students on your caseload you may apply for shortage area compensation.
Speech and Language Progress Reports
The DOE requires that students receiving related services must be re-evaluated every three years to assess whether they still need those services. Here are answers to common questions about preparing these "triennial examinations" for students in your caseload.
DOE Documents
Special Education Annual Review Information
This correspondence outlines key information that is critical to ensuring that the Annual Review process is completed accurately and expeditiously for special education students.
Legal Requirements Regarding Related Service Providers and Class Coverages, Oct. 4, 1993
Speech and Language Progress Reports During the Review or Triennial Process, June 20, 1997
Decertification of Students Receiving Special Education Services, April 22, 1999
Reminders about Special Education Service Providers, Principals’ Weekly, Dec. 11, 2003
Please be reminded that Special Education Teacher Support Services and Related Services (e.g., speech, counseling) are legally mandated services for students with disabilities that are necessary to support their progress in schools.
Children First Reforms in Special Education, effective July 1, 2007
This correspondence provides updated information regarding the evaluation and placement of students with disabilities and students suspected of being disabled and also serves as a reminder regarding current practice for evaluation processes and IEP Team meetings. UFT summary of the DOE memo is attached as page 1.
Related Services: Frequency, Duration, and Location of Related Services, May 26, 2010
This correspondence provides updated information regarding the frequency, duration and location of related services.
