LANSING, Mich. (Michigan News Source) — In some Michigan schools, speech therapy now comes through a screen.

From Eastpointe to Ann Arbor, districts are relying on virtual speech-language pathologists and social workers to fill stubborn vacancies in special education.

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“This is not an ideal situation,” Superintendent Christina Gibson told Bridge Michigan. “I think the best speech services are delivered face-to-face.” 

Eastpointe Community Schools currently serves 149 students, 37 of them preschoolers, through a team of four virtual speech providers and two therapists who work on site.

Statewide, more than 250 speech pathologist positions remain open in public schools, according to a special education task force. Michigan also ranks 44th nationally in starting teacher salaries, adding to recruitment challenges.

Districts say virtual providers are licensed in Michigan and maintain students’ individualized education program (IEP) goals. But educators acknowledge limits; remote therapists can’t step into classrooms during behavioral crises or build in-person rapport as easily.

With more than 215,000 Michigan students on IEPs—a number that continues to rise—districts say the larger issue isn’t technology. It’s staffing.

And for now, screens are helping plug the gaps.