Speech & Language Therapy at Bright Start helps children develop strong communication skills—an essential foundation for learning, making friends, and expressing themselves with confidence. Our licensed speech-language pathologists work with children who may have difficulties with articulation, language development, fluency, or social communication.
These services are free for eligible students and are funded and regulated by the Department of Education. Our goal is to give every child the tools they need to communicate effectively and confidently, both at school and at home.
How do I refer my child for speech therapy?
If you notice that your child is having challenges with speaking, understanding language, or communicating with peers, contact your school district’s Special Education Department.
They will guide you through:
Sharing your concerns.
Submitting paperwork for evaluation.
Choosing a qualified evaluation provider.
The school district will then connect you with a speech-language evaluation team to begin the process.
What happens during the evaluation process?
The evaluation is child-friendly and typically involves:
Play-based activities to assess understanding and expression.
Observation of interaction with family members or peers.
Standardized speech and language tests tailored to your child’s age.
Afterward, evaluators will share impressions and prepare a written report, which will also be provided to the school district. Based on the results, a meeting will be scheduled to review eligibility and plan services.
What can I expect at a CPSE meeting?
During the Committee on Preschool Special Education (CPSE) meeting, the following team members will participate:
Parents/guardians
CPSE/CSE chairperson
Evaluators
Speech-language pathologist
Teacher(s)
Service providers
County representative
Together, the group will determine if speech services are appropriate and decide on how often and where services will be provided.
