Speech and Language Services in schools adhere to the principles of the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA, 2004), providing a Free and Appropriate Public Education (FAPE) in the Least Restrictive Environment (LRE) for students with communication disorders in schools. Speech-Language Pathologists (SLPs) provide services to students who demonstrate a communication impairment that adversely affects their educational performance. 

Language disorders arise when an individual struggles with receptive language (understanding others) or with expressive language (expressing thoughts, ideas, and emotions). These disorders can affect spoken or written language and may pertain to the form (phonology, morphology, syntax), content (semantics), and/or the functional and socially appropriate use (pragmatics) of language.

A fluency disorder, or stuttering, includes difficulties which result in the abnormal flow of verbal expression to such a degree that they adversely affect communication. 

A speech sound disorder occurs when the production of speech sounds significantly interferes with communication and attracts adverse attention. 

A voice disorder occurs when voice quality, pitch, and loudness differ or are inappropriate for an individual’s age, gender, cultural background, or geographic location