What you need to know about Florida school-based therapy

School-Based Speech Therapy in Florida: What It Can (and Can’t) Do for Your Child

If you’re a parent in Florida navigating speech therapy for your child, you’re not alone. As a Speech-Language Clinician working in schools, I’ve seen firsthand how powerful school-based services can be—but also where they fall short. Let’s talk honestly about what you can expect, what the limits are, and how you can make the most of the resources available.

The Benefits of School-Based Speech Therapy

School-based speech therapy is a lifeline for many families. Here’s why:

• Free Services: Under federal law (IDEA), children who qualify receive therapy at no cost.

• Convenience: Therapy happens during the school day, so no extra travel or scheduling stress.

• Collaboration: SLPs work closely with teachers to support communication in the classroom.

• Access for All: Even in rural or underserved areas, schools often provide the only available speech services.

The Limits You Should Know

While school-based therapy is invaluable, it’s not perfect:

• Eligibility Rules: Only the most severe impairments qualify and eligibility is tied to educational impact. If your child’s speech issue doesn’t affect learning, they may not qualify—even if you notice a problem.

• Time Constraints: With large caseloads, sessions are ususally held in groups. Many students will not receive direct therapy but will receive services via consultation. This means the SLP may work with the teachers and not your child directly.

• Treating clinicians: While licensed SLPs carry out evaluations, many schools are staffed by "clinicians" who are not qualified Speech Language Pathologists. Instead they work under temporary teaching licenses that allow them to conduct therapy sessions mostly unsupervised.

• Limited Summer Support: Services usually pause during school breaks unless extended school year is approved.

What Can Parents Do?

• Ask Questions: Understand your child’s Individualized Education Program (IEP) and what goals are being targeted.

• Practice at Home: Even 10 minutes a day can reinforce skills.

• Consider Private Therapy: If possible, supplement school services for more intensive, individual support.

• Advocate: If you feel your child needs more help, speak up. You are your child’s best advocate.