Workforce & Training · Texas behavioral health news
‘That’s on us’: FWISD managers apologize for speech therapist shortage following cuts - Fort Worth Report
Behavioral Health Workforce (Google News) · August 17, 2026
In plain language
Fort Worth ISD began the school year with a shortage of 32 speech-language pathologists after previously cutting several part-time and assistant positions. District leaders apologized to families for the staffing gap, which occurred despite efforts to move toward a new full-time service model. Many students lost the consistent therapy teams they had relied on for years, which can disrupt their progress. The district is now attempting to rehire staff and use outside contractors to ensure students receive the speech services they need.
AI-generated summary of the source article. Not medical advice.
Key takeaways
- Fort Worth ISD is currently 32 speech-language pathologists short of its staffing goals.
- The district previously eliminated part-time and assistant speech positions to transition to a new full-time model.
- School officials are now rehiring for the same roles and using outside contractors to fill gaps.
- Lower salaries compared to the private sector and other districts have made recruiting speech therapists difficult.
- Parents and experts warn that losing familiar therapists can negatively impact a child's communication and regulation progress.
‘That’s on us’: FWISD managers apologize for speech therapist shortage following cuts Fort Worth Report
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