As a parent, stepping into the world of speech therapy can feel like learning a new language of acronyms, services, paperwork, appointments. It’s a lot. And one of the first questions many families ask is: What’s the difference between school-based and private speech therapy?
Here’s the good news: both can play a vital role in supporting your child’s communication growth. Understanding how they work and how they can work together is a powerful step toward building the best possible support system for your child.
School-Based Therapy: Supporting Access to Education
In public schools, speech therapy is provided through the special education system. That means services are available when communication challenges get in the way of learning. Therapy is guided by an Individualized Education Plan (IEP), which is developed collaboratively by school staff and you—the parent.
What You Can Expect from School-Based Therapy:
- No cost to families
- Often in small groups or classroom settings
- Goals focused on academic success
- Governed by federal and state education laws
- May include indirect support (like consulting with teachers instead of direct therapy)
- Frequency is determined by the IEP team
Important to know: Once a student is no longer showing educational impact, school-based services may be reduced or discontinued even if your child still needs support in other areas.
Private Speech Therapy: Whole-Child, Whole-Life Support
Private therapy zooms out to see the entire child, not just the student. It’s deeply individualized and designed to support communication across all areas of life: home, friendships, extracurriculars, and future independence. It’s not about checking boxes, it’s about helping your child build confidence and connection in every environment.
What Private Therapy Offers:
- One-on-one sessions, typically 30 minutes, one to two times per week
- Goals tailored to your child’s unique strengths and needs
- Caregiver involvement is central, you’re a key part of the therapy team
- Home practice and coaching to support carryover between sessions
- Collaborative care with physicians and other professionals when needed
- Specialized expertise in areas like feeding, fluency, early language, AAC, and more
What We Do at My Roar
At My Roar Therapy, private speech therapy isn’t just about improving speech and language, it’s about unlocking your child’s voice, building lifelong communication skills, and walking alongside families with compassion, consistency, and care.
Here’s How We Roar:
- Custom Goals, Real-Life Impact
We meet your child where they are and design therapy that reaches where they want to go across home, school, and community. - Specialized Training, Meaningful Change
Our team brings advanced training in feeding, AAC, speech sound disorders, pragmatic language, and more so your child gets exactly what they need. - Family First
We partner with caregivers every step of the way providing tools, support, and encouragement to keep the progress going long after each session ends. - Uplifting, Inclusive Care
Every voice matters here. We create a space where kids feel safe, celebrated, and confident to be themselves.
Why Choose Both?
We often get this question: Do we have to pick between school-based and private therapy?
Not at all. Many families find that combining both gives their child the strongest foundation. Here’s why:
- More frequent, focused practice leads to faster progress
- Skills transfer better across home, school, and social environments
- Private therapy can fill in the gaps that school services aren’t designed to address
Think of it like building a team around your child with each provider bringing a different strength to the table.
Final Thoughts: A Whole-Child, Whole-Family Approach
Your child deserves to be heard, understood, and celebrated, not just in the classroom, but at home, in friendships, on the playground, and beyond. By understanding the role of both school-based and private speech therapy, you can build a support network that’s not only effective but empowering.
If you’re wondering how these services can work together for your child, we’re here for that conversation.
At My Roar Therapy we’re not just providing therapy, we’re on this journey with you. With heart, with expertise, and with a whole lot of ROAR.