February 9-12, 2011
Northern Kentucky Convention Center
Covington, KY

Submit your Call for Papers

Click here to Volunteer

Posted 7/9/2010
Criteria for Determination of Social Security Disablility Based on Hearing Loss.

Posted 4/22/2010

KSHA has received several questions about the immediate impact that HB376 will have for SLPs currently providing speech-language services to students in Kentucky public schools.  The bill simply sets the groundwork for ASHA-certified SLPs and Audiologists to receive a salary supplement in the same amount as teachers who have received NBPTS certification IF the General Assembly appropriates funds for this purpose.At this time, the General Assembly has not allocated funds for this purpose, however, the bill allows local Boards of Education discretion to pay a salary supplement from local school funds (when funds are not appropriated by the General Assembly). The bill does not MANDATE that local school districts pay a salary supplement to their SLPs/AUDs.  NBPTS salary supplement funds are a separate allocation and these teachers will continue to be paid as long as funding is available for this purpose.  Additionally, the bill does NOT state that ASHA-certification is "equivalent" to NBPTS certification, and does not require that local school districts consider ASHA-certified SLPs eligible for Rank 1 status.  You may be able to use information contained in the Bill as well as from other materials previously provided by KSHA to continue to advocate for ASHA certified SLPs in your district.  It is the responsibility of each member to educate others about the value of obtaining and maintaining the highest degree of certification available and how that is of value to your district.

If you still have questions regarding this legislation please address them to KSHA and not directly to the Legislators who were kind enough to support our efforts regarding this Bill.  We will continue to pursue this matter in future Legislative sessions and we hope to enjoy the support of those who have helped us in past especially Rep. Leslie Combs who has been the primary sponsor of this Bill for the past three sessions.  If you have not done so, please consider writing to her  at leslie.combs@lrc.ky.gov and letting her know that her help is appreciated.