Workload Versus Caseload: An Exploratory Comparison Study of Individualized Education Program Progress and Other...

Area of Science:

• Educational Administration
• Speech-Language Pathology
• Special Education

Background:

• Public schools face challenges in managing speech-language pathologist workloads.
• Existing caseload approaches may not be optimal for service delivery and student progress.

Purpose of the Study:

• To compare the effectiveness of four workload approaches (WAs) against the traditional caseload approach (CA) in public schools.
• To gather preliminary data on student outcomes, service delivery, and stakeholder perceptions.

Main Methods:

• Five speech-language pathologists implemented one of four WAs; two used the CA.
• Data collected on Individualized Education Program (IEP) progress, classroom performance, service delivery, workload, and stakeholder perceptions.

Main Results:

• Both workload and caseload approaches achieved desirable IEP progress, with all students receiving documented services.
• The Workload Management Strategies (WMS) Approach demonstrated the most success indicators among the WAs.
• Some workload management practices may have implications for compliance with federal special education law.

Conclusions:

• The WMS Approach shows significant promise for enhancing student outcomes, workload determination, and legal compliance.
• The study highlights strengths and weaknesses of different approaches, offering practical implications.
• Further research is recommended due to the small sample size and limited generalizability.