Distance Learning Master’s Degree for Speech- Language Pathologists SIG 3 Hope Morris, M.S., CCC-SLP Director 1

VT Special Education: Data Reports, Publications & Resources: Special Education Child Count Data Report for , 078 students on active IEP’s 758 children birth to 3 years IFSP 18-19% of students in most needy districts on IEP’s These districts include: Franklin, Orange, Rutland, Orleans Counties 2

4-7% of students have autism 13-24% of students have a developmental delay 3

Large number of students with communication disorders 84% of SLP’s in schools service children with ASD 66% of SLP’s in schools service children with Developmental Delays (ASHA 2008 Schools Survey) 4

-12% of VT school districts with no full-time SLP -46% of school districts with at least one SLP opening -34% in need of an additional full time SLP -1/3 of unfilled positions remained open more than 4 months -17% remained unfilled for over one year VSHA Survey,

Median Academic Year Salaries of School-Based SLPs by Type of Community, 2004, 2006, and 2008 ( ASHA Schools Survey Report, 2008) Community Type Rural$43,000$47,000$52,000 Suburban$51, 600$56,000$60,000 Metro/Urban$52,000$54,999$60,000 6

~Focus: Increase number of certified SLP's in Vermont schools ~Utilizing students currently working as SLP-A’s in Vermont schools ~ 3 year part-time Master’s of Science degree program ~ Contains same rigor as conventional, on-campus program ~Utilize online and hybrid course formats for learning at a distance ~Many courses modified for RtI, PBIS, DI, and Early Literacy Strategies ~Accredited by the American Speech-Language Hearing Association (ASHA) 7

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Applications reviewed: 19 Applicants accepted: 13 Attended UVM’s SLP-A program:5 Bachelor’s Communication Sciences:4 Bachelor’s Education:4 9

MeansDL StudentsOn-Campus Students (2008) GRE-Quantitative GRE-Verbal GRE-Writing GPA

Fall 2009 ~Largest program to date: 45 students ~Servicing largest number of in-state students: 37 · 13 DL students · 13 Continuing On-campus students · 11 In-coming On-campus students 11

13 students began graduate courses in Fall students continued on in the program for Spring 2010 Students currently taking 2 courses and begin clinical practicum summer 2010 with requirement to accrue 400 clinical clock hours Students grades continue to be in the A and B range Students set to graduate in summer 2012 with M.S. in Communication Sciences 12

Utilizing both synchronous and asynchronous teaching -Video web streaming for F2F interactions -Blackboard for asynchronous teaching -Camtasia software 13

“I’m not sure, but UVM appears to be raising the bar high for online teaching” “I am getting such a quality education in the CMSI department. I couldn’t be more pleased with the organization and course content of each of my classes to date.” “Hope, you and the professors responded to s and questions amazingly fast. I’m so pleased to be part of this program. Weekly, I was able to discuss new information with my SLP and apply the information learned through my classes to my work situation-that is what is so wonderful about this program.” 14