A school-based speech language pathologist job description outlines the duties and responsibilities of someone who helps students overcome communication challenges so they can reach their full potential at school and beyond.
The job description illustrates what a day in the life of a school-based speech-language pathologist (SLP) may look like and highlights the qualifications for becoming one.
As a school-based speech-language pathologist, your day ultimately revolves around helping students with speech, language, and communication needs access to their learning environment more effectively. Your goal is to support them in communicating clearly, participating in classroom activities, and building skills that allow them to learn alongside their peers.
Specifically, you may work with students who have articulation disorders, language delays, fluency challenges, voice disorders, and/or social communication needs. Some students may receive services individually, while others benefit from small group support. Simply put, you help students communicate better so they can learn better.
Whether you are assigned to work at one school or multiple schools will depend on your specific employer. In smaller districts with fewer students, you may be required to travel between schools. In larger districts with a higher number of students, you may only work out of one facility. Be sure to ask if travel between schools is required during your interview.
Regardless of the structure, you’ll work as part of a student’s broader support team, collaborating with teachers, special education staff, administrators, and families. Together, you’ll develop and implement plans that align with each student’s Individualized Education Program (IEP) goals and educational needs.
Here’s a quick snapshot of what a typical day as a school-based speech-language pathologist may include:
It’s always a great idea to ask whoever may be interviewing you for a speech language pathologist position at a school to explain any additional responsibilities. Not only will you get a clearer picture of what you can expect, but you can also demonstrate that you’re a committed applicant by asking such a thoughtful question.
While every school district is a little different, most school-based speech-language pathologists share a similar core set of responsibilities. The details may vary depending on the age group or student population, but the role's purpose remains the same: helping students communicate more effectively in their school environment.
Supporting students starts with understanding their needs. That means evaluating speech and language skills and examining how communication challenges manifest in the classroom, during social interactions, and throughout the school day.
Those observations are documented in formal evaluations and progress reports, which help guide therapy planning and support IEP decisions. Progress notes also give the team a clear picture of what’s working, what’s improving, and where goals may need to be adjusted over time.
Much of the work happens face-to-face with students during therapy sessions. These may be one-on-one or small group sessions, depending on the student’s goals and learning style.
Much of the impact occurs outside formal therapy sessions. Supporting students indirectly often means checking in with teachers, talking through what’s working (and what isn’t), and suggesting minor adjustments that make a big difference in the classroom. It might involve visual supports, simple accommodations, or just observing how a student communicates during lunch, recess, or transitions. Those everyday moments often tell you more than a worksheet ever could.
School-based speech-language pathologists are part of a larger team supporting each student. You’ll sit in on IEP meetings, help shape goals, share updates, and speak up when a student needs additional support or a different approach.
Families play a key role as well. Building strong, open communication with parents and caregivers helps create consistency between school and home. It also gives families a clearer picture of how speech-language services fit into their child’s learning and day-to-day progress.
Success in this role starts with the right foundation. Most school-based speech language pathologists bring a combination of education, credentials, and practical skills, including:
Experience in pediatric or school-based settings can be helpful, but it isn’t always required.
More and more school districts partner with organizations to support and manage their school-based therapy services. If this speech language pathologist job description aligns with your career goals, working with Pediatric Therapeutic Services may be the right next step.
We support clinicians at every stage of their careers, including Clinical Fellows. We provide mentorship, resources, and guidance to help providers grow confident in pediatric assessment, intervention strategies, and IEP collaboration.
If you’re interested in becoming a school-based SLP with us, learn more about joining our team.