Roles and Responsibilities of a School-Based Speech-Language Pathologist

ASHA's Roles and Responsibilities of Speech-Language Pathologists in Schools, guidelines that were developed in 2010, state that SLPs in schools have integral roles in education and are essential members of school faculties. They help students meet the performance standards of a particular school district and state by assuming a range of responsibilities: a) working in partnership with others to meet students' needs, b) providing direction in defining students' roles and responsibilities, and c) ensuring appropriate services to students.

The Big Nine

  1. Articulation
  2. Fluency
  3. Voice and resonance (including respiration and phonation)
  4. Receptive and expressive language
  5. Hearing (including impact on speech and language)
  6. Swallowing (oral, pharyngeal, esophageal, and related functions, including oral function for feeding; orofacial myofunction)
  7. Cognitive assessments of communication (attention, memory, sequencing, problem-solving, executive functioning)
  8. Social aspects of communication (challenging behavior, ineffective social skills, lack of communication opportunities)
  9. Communication modalities (including oral, manual, augmentative and alternative communication techniques, and assistive technologies


School Services Frequently Asked Questions. (2017). Retrieved August 24, 2017, from http://www.asha.org/SLP/schools/School-Services-Frequently-Asked-Questions/

SLP Education Summit Glossary. (2017). Retrieved August 24, 2017, from http://www.asha.org/Events/SLP-Summit-Glossary/

Photo retrieved August 24, 2017, from https://s-media-cache-ak0.pinimg.com/originals/ab/2a/fe/ab2afee2e76205e82b4c0133b54056c5.jpg


This link provides the NH state standards that guide educational services in the state of New Hampshire by which school based speech language pathologists practice. NH Common Core Standards Although the scope of practice of speech and language pathologists is diverse, school based services are centered around a student's ability to access the curriculum.