Vermont Department of Education and the University of Vermont Collaboration

1. Vermont Department of Education and the University of Vermont Collaboration Distance Learning Master’s Degree for Speech-Language Pathologists SIG 3 Hope Morris, M.S., CCC-SLP Director

2. VT Statistics VT Special Education: Data Reports, Publications & Resources:Special Education Child Count Data Report for 2008 14, 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

3. Students on IEP 4-7% of students have autism 13-24% of students have a developmental delay

4. What does this mean? 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)

5. VT Statistics -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, 2007

6. Rural School District Issues Median Academic Year Salaries of School-Based SLPs by Type of Community, 2004, 2006, and 2008 (ASHA Schools Survey Report, 2008)

7. Program Characteristics ~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)

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

10. Student Comparison

11. UVM SLP Master's Program 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

12. Where are we now? 13 students began graduate courses in Fall 2009 12 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

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

14. Current Student Feedback “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 e-mails 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.”