The Every Student Succeeds Act (ESSA) was passed a year ago this December, and while state leaders are in the process of developing transition and implementation plans, many educators are still unsure of how the act will impact their responsibilities. Clinicians who practice in education settings play especially significant roles in the implementation of ESSA, so this July, ASHA published “Every Student Success Act: Key Issues for ASHA Members” to help audiologists and SLPs understand their role in the new law.
According to the analysis document, the new law will create “many new opportunities” for SLPs and audiologists, including:
- the ability to work with state and local leaders as they develop their ESSA transition and implementation plans
- access to more PD opportunities
- increased involvement in literacy in early grades and the development of more comprehensive early intervention and multi-tiered systems of support (MTSS) for struggling students
To better prepare clinicians for this role, the document outlines 11 key topic areas ASHA members should consider as the implementation process unfolds at the state and local level:
- Implementation Timeline
- State Plans
- Funding Analysis
- Alternate Achievement Standards for Students with the Most Significant Cognitive Disabilities (1%)
- Specialized Instructional Support Personnel (SISP)
- Literacy
- Early Intervening Services and Multi-Tiered Systems of Support
- Professional Learning
- Professional Accountability
- Dyslexia
- Early Childhood Grants
In each of the 11 sections, ASHA lists a general overview of the topic area, a description of the impact it may have on ASHA members, and additional resources. On occasion, ASHA included vignettes and scenarios to help members better understand the impact of the law. Lastly, the document lists contact information for key ASHA staff, as well as external resources should members need additional guidance.
To read the entire analysis document, click here.
