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LEAs approved to offer stipends for master's level speech-language pathologist (SLP) students
LEAs approved to offer stipends for master's level speech-language pathologist (SLP) students
To be listed as an available site for speech-language pathologist externs, LEAs must meet the requirements listed in section III of the application.
$5,000.00 will be available from July 1, 2025 through June 30, 2026, to provide the master's level speech-language pathologist extern a stipend for the school-based placement.
Local Education Agencies (LEAs) including approved private schools, charter schools, cyber charter schools, intermediate units, and school districts are encouraged to submit completed applications. Applications will be reviewed by the APR Core Team on a rolling basis. To be an eligible site for either the Fall and/or Spring semester, a completed application must be received prior to the start of the semester.
PA University Speech-Language Pathologists Program Coordinators will be notified of LEAs interested in providing a stipend to a master's level SLP graduate student. LEA information will also be made available to externs in Pennsylvania’s Speech-Language Pathologist Programs and the Pennsylvania Speech-Language-Hearing Association.
* For the purposes of this paid externship, a master's level SLP graduate student is defined as a student enrolled in an approved Pennsylvania Speech-Language Pathology master's program. Verification of enrollment in a master's program for Speech-Language Pathology in an Approved Pennsylvania College or University is required.
**Note: The Master's Level Speech-Language Pathologist (SLP) Stipend for School-Based Placements has been expanded for the fall 2025 and spring 2026 semesters. LEAs may apply for a $5000 stipend for each SLP extern placed in their organization for the fall 2025 and/or spring 2026 semesters on a first-come, first-served regional basis. Each extern requires a site supervisor who is an ASHA-certified SLP with a Certificate of Clinical Competence (CCC-SLP) and a minimum of 5 years experience.
Outcomes of the Master's Level Speech-Language Pathologist Stipend for School-Based Placements include:
The establishment or expansion of school-based placements that provide high quality services to students, families, and school staff.
An increase in the number of speech-language pathologist students that pursue an instructional I certificate or education specialist certificate and work in LEAs within Pennsylvania.
*Denotes Fall 2025 Extern Enrollment.
*Denotes Spring 2026 Extern Enrollment.
Central Region LEAs
Central Region LEAs
Name of LEA Location Contact Information Semester(s) Available
Bedford Area School District Bedford, PA Dr. Paul Ruhlman
Capital Area Intermediate Unit Enola, PA Meghan Harvey Fall 2025/Spring 2026
Central Susquehanna Intermediate Unit Milton, PA Terri Locke Spring 2026
Conestoga Valley School District Lancaster, PA Robin Hamme Fall 2025/Spring 2026
Forest Hills School District* Sidman, PA Dr. Rob Dill Fall 2025
Hanover Area School District Hanover Twp, PA Shannon Bennett
Hempfield School District Landisville, PA Meredith Goodrich
Lancaster Lebanon Intermediate Unit* Lancaster, PA Kristine Van Tassel Fall 2025/Spring 2026
Lower Dauphin School District* Hummelstown, PA Daniel Berra Fall 2025
Sayre Area School District Sayre, PA Tricia Tietjen
Solanco School District Quarryville, PA Christopher Keeler
The School District of Lancaster Lancaster, PA Carolyn Satko Fall 2025/Spring2026
Tri-Valley School District Valley View, PA Ashley Miller
Waynesboro Area School District Waynesboro, PA Erica McDonald
Eastern Region LEAs
Eastern Region LEAs
Name of LEA Location Contact Information Semester(s) Available
Agora Cyber Charter School King of Prussia, PA Erinn Slacktish Fall 2025/Spring 2026
Bethlehem Area School District Bethlehem, PA Daniel Burkholder Spring 2026
Bucks County Intermediate Unit******* Doylestown, PA Gina Meissler Fall 2025/Spring 2026
Cheltenham School District Elkins Park, PA Stephen Catrambone
Colonial Intermediate Unit Easton, PA Kelly Hixon Spring 2026
MaST Community Charter School 3 Philadelphia, PA Philip Serpiello
Montgomery County Intermediate Unit Norristown, PA Amanda Wagner Fall 2025/Spring 2026
Mountainview School District** Kingsley, PA Erica Loftus Fall 2025/Spring 2026
Northampton School District Northampton, PA Victoria Kropf Fall 2025/Spring 2026
North Pocono School District Moscow, PA Donna Carey
Northern Lehigh School District Slatington, PA Sherri Molitoris
Owen J. Roberts School District Pottstown, PA Mary White
Quakertown Community School District Quakertown, PA Carolyn Staffieri Fall 2025/Spring 2026
Scranton School District**** Scranton, PA Robert Gentilezza Fall 2025/Spring 2026
Valley View School District Archbald, PA Jeremy Pichany Fall 2025/Spring 2026
Wallenpaupack School District Hawley, PA Jay Starnes Fall 2025/Spring 2026
Western Region LEAs
Western Region LEAs
Name of LEA Location Contact Information Semester(s) Available
Allegheny Intermediate Unit*** Homestead, PA Eileen Cirelli Fall 2025/Spring 2026
Harbor Creek School District Harborcreek, PA Taylor Vitron
Laurel School District New Castle, PA Leslie Gleghorn
Mars Area School District* Mars, PA Travis Mineard Fall 2025
New Castle School District* New Castle, PA Jonalyn Romeo Fall 2025
North Allegheny School District* Pittsburgh, PA Patti Tkacik Fall 2025
Penns Manor Area School District* Clymer, PA Daren Johnston Fall 2025
Pittsburgh Public School District Pittsburgh, PA Hope Warner Fall 2025/Spring 2026
Purchase Line School District Commodore, PA Dawn Ambrisco Fall 2025/Spring 2026
Quaker Valley School District Leetsdale, PA Jennifer Shroads Spring 2026
Seneca Valley School District** Harmony, PA Andrew Teti Fall 2025/Spring 2026
The Day School* Pittsburgh, PA Billi Jo Huffman Fall 2025/Spring 2026
The Watson Institute Education Centers*** Sewickley, PA Michele Trettel Fall 2025/Spring 2026
Western PA School for Blind Children Pittsburgh, PA Charissa Wendland Spring 2026
Pennsylvania Speech-Language Pathologist Programs
Pennsylvania Speech-Language Pathologist Programs
The following approved educator preparation programs may have master's level SLP graduate students in need of externships.
Approved Educator Prep Program Program(s) Offered Contact
Carbon-Lehigh IU #21 Speech & Language Impaired PK-12 Eric Lech - Director of Curriculum & Instruction
Carlow University Speech & Language Impaired PK-12; Amanda Smith - Director of Clinical Education
School Speech & Language Pathologist PK-12
Commonwealth University School Speech & Language Pathologist PK-12 Shelley Scarpino - Director of Clinical Education Coordinator
Delaware Valley University School Speech & Language Pathologist PK-12 Karen Rice - Director of Clinical Education
Duquesne University Speech & Language Impaired PK-12; Brooke Baumann - Director of Clinical Education
School Speech & Language Pathologist PK-12
East Stroudsburg University of PA Speech & Language Impaired PK-12; Rachel Wolf - Graduate Externship Coordinator
School Speech & Language Pathologist PK-12
Indiana University of PA Speech & Language Impaired PK-12; Erin Clark - Clinic Director
School Speech & Language Pathologist PK-12
LaSalle University Speech & Language Impaired PK-12; Maureen Costello-Yacono - Director of Clinical Education
School Speech & Language Pathologist PK-12
Lebanon Valley College Speech & Language Impaired PK-12; Mindy Nguyen - Director of Clinical Education
School Speech & Language Pathologist PK-12
Marywood University Speech & Language Impaired PK-12 Andrea Novak - Graduate Program Director
Misericordia University School Speech & Language Pathologist PK-12 Lori Cimino - Clinical Director
Moravian University School Speech & Language Pathologist PK-12 Chantal Whiteduck - Director of Clinical Education SLP
Penn State University (Main campus) Speech & Language Impaired PK-12 Elise Lindquist - Externship Coordinator
Penn Western University (California) Speech & Language Impaired PK-12; April Wright - Director of Clinical Education
School Speech & Language Pathologist PK-12
Penn Western University (Clarion) Speech & Language Impaired PK-12; Mary Pat McCarthy - Director of Clinical Education
School Speech & Language Pathologist PK-12
Penn Western University (Edinboro) Speech & Language Impaired PK-12; Cynthia Reyes-Pabon - Director of Clinical Education
School Speech & Language Pathologist PK-12
Temple University Speech & Language Impaired PK-12 Lauren Burrows - Master's Program Director
Thiel College Speech & Language Impaired PK-12 Julie Kobak - Clinic Director
Thomas Jefferson University Speech & Language Impaired PK-12; Irene Shetzline Jackson - Director of Clinical Practice
School Speech & Language Pathologist PK-12
University of Pittsburgh Speech & Language Impaired PK-12; Erin Lundblom - Director of Clinical Education for SLP
School Speech & Language Pathologist PK-12
West Chester University Speech & Language Impaired PK-12; Jennifer Means - Director of Clinical Services
School Speech & Language Pathologist PK-12
Widener University School Speech & Language Pathologist PK-12 Lauren Hayden - Director of Clinical Education
2024-2025 Master's Level Speech-Language Pathologist (SLP) Extern Stipend for School-Based-Placements Executive Summary.pdf2024-2025 Master's Level SLP Extern Stipend Executive Summary
2024-2025 Master's Level SLP Extern Stipend Executive Summary
In July 2024, the Pennsylvania Department of Education (PDE), Bureau of Special Education (BSE) launched the Master’s Level SLP Extern Stipend for School-Based Placements Grant to help address the shortage of speech-language pathologists in schools. The $250,000 initiative provided funding to expand externship opportunities and strengthen the pipeline of qualified SLPs.
The Executive Summary linked here, includes background on the shortage of speech-language pathologists in Pennsylvania's schools, an overview of the program, and key results from the 2024–2025 implementation.
APPLICATION PROCESS
APPLICATION PROCESS
Complete the application
Receive approval from the APR Core Team
"Secure" an extern
Complete an enrollment form
Receive contract
Participate in professional development provided by PaTTAN consultants
OVERVIEW PRESENTATION
OVERVIEW PRESENTATION
The PowerPoint slides referenced during the July 23, 2025, overview session can be accessed by clicking on the "pop out" arrow in the right-hand corner.
2024-2025 SLP Graduate Student Extern Stipend 7.24.2024 - Copy.pptxRETURNING APPLICANTS
RETURNING APPLICANTS
Complete the Status Update Form
"Secure" an extern
Complete an enrollment form
Receive contract
Participate in professional development provided by PaTTAN consultants
Grant Forms
2025-2026 Application.pdfPreview the full grant application by clicking on the "pop out" arrow in the right-hand corner.
Access the online application here.
Note:
The LEA is required to complete the application.
An account will need to be created with a username and password.
2025-2026 Master's Level SLP Stipend Enrollment.pdfLEAs who secure a master's level SLP graduate student extern will submit an enrollment form.
Access the link to the enrollment form here.
Note:
All returning LEAs are required to complete a status update form.
An account will need to be created with a username and password.
2025-2026 Master's Level SLP Stipend Additional Site Supervisor.pdfLEAs who are approved providers and need to add additional site supervisors will submit an additional site supervisor enrollment form.
Access the link to the additional site supervisor form here.
2025-2026 Master's Level SLP Stipend Grant Status Update.pdfPreview the status update form by clicking on the "pop out" arrow in the right-hand corner.
Access the status update form here.
Note:
All returning LEAs are required to complete a status update form.
An account will need to be created with a username and password.
Have questions or need more information? Contact any of the following:
Jennifer Geibel - PaTTAN Speech-Language Pathology Consultant
John Rose - PaTTAN Speech-Language Pathology Consultant
Christine Moon - APR State Lead
Amanda Winnor - PaTTAN West Assistant Director
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