ASHA's Schools Survey identified important considerations for SLPs seeking employment, including large amount of paperwork, high workload/caseload size, limited time for collaboration, working conditions, low salary and professional environment. Each presents its own barriers related to recruitment and retention of qualified SLPs in school settings.
ASHA's Schools Survey indicated that low salaries continue to be one of the greatest challenges faced by school-based SLPs. Although the salaries of school-based SLPs seem to be on the rise, salary is often a factor in job selection and may play a role in successful recruitment and retention.
Historically, inadequate or unacceptable working conditions have discouraged SLPs from signing on and staying in the schools.
School-based SLPs listed their top five greatest challenges as follows:
See the SLP Workforce and Work Conditions report for more information.
Various studies and surveys by professionals in the field have reported factors that influence the recruitment and retention of SLPs in school settings:
The Critical Shortage of Speech-Language Pathologists in the Public School Setting
Language, Speech, and Hearing Services in Schools
A questionnaire was distributed to SLPs employed in 10 school districts in Central Florida. The primary goal of the questionnaire was to elicit the perspectives of school-based SLPs regarding:
Perceptions of Job Stress and Satisfaction Among School-Based SLPs: Challenges Versus Rewards
SIG 16 Perspectives on School-Based Issues
Specific demographic, caseload, and employment factors that may contribute to job stress and employment satisfaction were examined by surveying SLPs in school settings in Michigan during the 2003-2004 school year. In general, school-based SLPs reported high levels of job satisfaction, and relatively low levels of job stress. SLPs reported being more challenged by employment factors than by student-related issues.
Benefits and Characteristics of Mentoring Students and Young Professionals
SIG 11 Perspectives on Administration and Supervision
Mentoring has been cited in the literature as an effective factor in helping teambuilding in the workplace, retaining of new staff, fostering leadership development, and improving job satisfaction.
Speech-Language Pathologist Job Satisfaction in School Versus Medical Settings
Language, Speech, and Hearing Services in Schools
A job satisfaction survey was sent to SLPs in medical and school settings. SLPs in both settings reported to be generally satisfied in their jobs, but SLPs in medical settings had significantly higher satisfaction scores. SLPs in school settings reported high levels of satisfaction with the nature of work, and lowest ratings for operating conditions and promotion.
What Makes a Caseload (Un)Manageable? School-Based Speech-Language Pathologists Speak
Language, Speech, and Hearing Services in Schools
This study was conducted with public school SLPs from across the country to identify current mean caseload size for school-based SLPs, a threshold at which caseload size begins to be perceived as unmanageable, and variables contributing to school-based SLPs' feelings of caseload manageability. Conclusions: