TEXAS — The state says it’s pushing to better include children with special needs in early childhood classrooms.
A group of government agencies put together a four-year plan to address the issue. It derives from a bill passed in the last legislative session.
It comes at a time when some public schools are working on their own plans to address the shortage of special education teachers.
“What I need is for you guys to act with urgency to fix the special education staffing crisis we’re in and make things better for your direct hire SLPs right now,” said Christina Sellers, a speech language pathologist for Fort Worth Independent School District at a recent board meeting.
Speech language pathologists, or SLPs, have taken center stage at recent Fort Worth ISD school board meetings.
“There is a nationwide shortage,” said Peter Licata, the superintendent for Fort Worth ISD. “That’s not an excuse; it’s the reason but we have to continue to work harder to get non contracted services.”
Despite cuts to the SLP department at the end of last school year, the district is now rehiring some of those jobs.
According to Fort Worth ISD’s website, there were 33 positions open as of mid-September.
Now, the board wants to fund $2.5 million to special education to help fill the gaps.
“What I need is for you guys to act with urgency to fix the special education staffing crisis we’re in and make things better for your direct hire SLPs right now,” said Laura Obuchowski, a Fort Worth ISD parent.
Fort Worth ISD isn’t the only one.
The state recently surveyed more than 1,200 Texans, and more than half said they felt there was a lack of trained specialists in public schools, like SLPs, which wasn’t a surprise to Steven Aleman with Disability Rights Texas.
“We’re blessed that so many people go into this field and stay in this field, but it is a challenge and so anything we can do to invest in both the staff that is there today and the future workforce is super important,” said Aleman, a senior policy specialist for Disability Rights Texas.
The survey is part of a new four-year plan to better include kids with disabilities in Texas public school classrooms, specifically early childhood.
Three government agencies worked on it, including the Texas Education Agency, Texas Health and Human Services and the Texas Workforce Commission.
“It doesn’t break to many new grounds in terms of the recommendations,” said Aleman. “They’re very foundational, but it’s still very important to have that.”
The plan calls for expanded trainings, better communication between programs and families and more funding to recruit and keep teachers.
“This kind of plan we can kind of actually point to something and cite to it and say this was a legislative priority,” said Aleman. “This was something the governor approved that gives us that much more sort of standing.”
At the minimum, Aleman says it can guide decision making in the upcoming legislative session this spring.