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Speech & Language Pathology Services

St. Mary’s County Public Schools maintains a full continuum of services and supports for students with speech and/or language impairments ages birth through twenty-one. The goal of the speech-language pathology program is to provide students with the necessary communication skills to achieve success using the same standards as their non-disabled peers. In order to achieve this goal, each student will receive:

  • A Comprehensive speech-language assessment and evaluation to determine the educational implications of the speech-language impairment. All students will receive the appropriate assessments to determine personal strengths and weaknesses in speech and language skills development;
  • An Individualized Education Program (IEP) to address the interventions necessary to assist the student in accessing the general education curriculum; and
  • The instruction in the skills necessary to communicate effectively with adults and peers. Areas of instruction are based on the individual needs of each student and are related to educational impact as stated in the IEP.

Referral Process for Articulation Concerns:

  1. Teachers and/or parents may report a concern regarding sound development to the school in writing to the speech-language pathologist. Parents may contact the school speech-language pathologist to discuss the concern. Teachers make referrals using the articulation referral form, which can be obtained from any school speech language pathologist.
  2. The Speech-Language Pathologist conducts an articulation screening.
  3. If the Speech-Language Pathologist documents a concern, a meeting of the school IEP team is held to request a complete assessment.
  4. The IEP Team meets to review the results of the assessments and other relevant information to determine if the student is exhibiting an impairment in the area of articulation development.
  5. If eligible as a child with a disability, an IEP is developed, approved and implemented.
  6. Data is continually collected throughout the IEP cycle in order to make appropriate decisions about student progress.

Referral Process for Language, Voice, and Fluency Concerns:

  1. Teachers and/or parents make a referral to the school Pupil Services Team.
  2. The team reviews the referral in order to determine if there is a need to request that the school Speech-Language Pathologist complete a language, fluency, or voice screening.
  3. If the school Speech Language Pathologist documents a concern at the time of screening, a referral is made to the school IEP Team to request a meeting to discuss further assessment.
  4. The IEP team meets to review the screening results and determine if there is a need for further assessment. If the team determines a need for further assessments, the school Speech-Language Pathologist will complete the necessary assessments.
  5. The IEP team meets to review the results of the assessments and other relevant information to determine if the student has a language, fluency, or voice impairment.
  6. If eligible, an IEP is developed, approved and implemented.
  7. Data is continually collected throughout the IEP cycle in order to make appropriate decisions about students.

For more information about related services or the referral process, please contact:

Cynthia Kilcoyne
Supervisor of Special Education
(301) 475-5511 ext. 32218
ckkilcoyne@smcps.org