School Speech Therapy vs. Private Speech Therapy: What’s the Difference?
Alexis Irazoque, M.S., CCC-SLP
Choosing between school speech therapy vs. private speech therapy depends mainly on your child’s communication needs. School-based speech therapy helps children take part in learning and school activities. Private speech therapy can address a wider range of communication goals.
So, is school speech therapy enough for your child? It depends on their needs, progress, and the support available at their school. Here’s how school and private speech therapy compare and what to consider when making a decision.
Key takeaways
School speech therapy focuses on communication skills that help a child participate in and benefit from their education.
Private speech therapy can address a broader range of goals, helping kids communicate at home, at school, and out in the community.
Children can receive school-based and private speech therapy at the same time, with each service addressing different or related goals.
Online speech therapy can be an effective option for many children, and it enables parents and caregivers to get involved.
The best type of speech therapy depends on a child’s communication needs, progress, goals, and the support available to them.
Find the right speech therapist for your child
We'll match you with a licensed speech therapist who's experienced in your child's needs and available when you are.
Get startedWhat is the difference between school-based and private speech therapy?
The main difference between school-based and private speech therapy is how services are provided and what determines a child’s eligibility for therapy. Both types of speech therapy can address a child’s communication needs and goals. However, here’s the main difference:
School-based services focus on helping children participate in and access their education
Private speech therapy focuses on medically necessary treatment based on a child’s individual needs
School speech therapy is provided through a child’s school. To qualify for services, a child must meet school-based eligibility requirements. Therapy goals are based on how a communication difficulty affects the child’s ability to participate in school and access the material that’s being taught. These goals may address areas such as speech intelligibility (how clear a child’s speech is), stuttering, receptive and expressive language, and social communication.
Private speech therapy takes place outside of school, such as in a clinic, private practice, or online. A private speech-language pathologist (SLP), also called a speech therapist, can work on speech, language, social communication, stuttering, feeding, and other areas based on a child’s needs and medical necessity. Private speech therapy therapy does not use the same eligibility criteria as school-based services.
Some children can get all the support they need through school. Others may benefit from private therapy alone or in addition to school-based speech therapy.
Should your child receive speech therapy at school or in private sessions? How much will private therapy cost? Our guide explains it all.
School-based vs. private speech therapy: A comparison
School-based speech therapy
Focus: Centers on communication goals related to a child’s ability to participate in school and learning
Location: Takes place at school, at no direct cost to families
Requirements: The child must meet school-based eligibility requirements
Approach: May be provided through “push-in services,” where the speech therapist comes to the child’s classroom, or “pull-out sessions,” which take place in a speech therapy room. Therapy may be provided individually or in a group.
Schedule: Follows the school schedule, which means therapy may pause over the summer and on school breaks
Family involvement: Based on the school’s services and the therapist’s approach
Offers the benefit of being part of an Individualized Education Program (IEP), when applicable. With an IEP, a team of professionals collaborates to help your child succeed in school.
Private speech therapy
Focus: Medically necessary treatment based on a child’s individual communication goals; can address a range of communication needs, including those that may not affect a child’s access to learning at school
Location: Takes place in a clinic, private practice, or online through teletherapy
Cost: May be covered by insurance or paid for out of pocket
Requirements: Uses eligibility criteria that differ from school-based requirements
Approach: Is often provided one-on-one
Schedule: May offer more flexible scheduling than school-based speech therapy
Family involvement: Often includes personalized home practice activities to help families support their child’s progress and carry over skills into everyday routines. Parents and caregivers can often attend sessions and form a relationship with the speech therapist.
Learn how to help your child with their speech and language, participate in their speech therapy, and work with their speech therapist.
What does speech therapy in schools focus on?
Speech therapy in schools focuses on communication skills that help children learn, participate in class, and interact with others at school. A school-based speech therapist looks at how a child's communication needs affect their school day.
School speech therapists may work on many different communication skills, including:
Speech sounds: Helping children say sounds more clearly so teachers and classmates can understand them.
Understanding and using language: Helping children understand directions, learn new words, answer questions, and share their thoughts and ideas.
Social communication: Helping children take turns in conversations, understand social rules, interact with other kids, and build relationships.
Fluency and voice: Supporting children who stutter or have voice differences that make it harder to join in class discussions or presentations.
Reading and writing skills: Supporting skills such as sound awareness that can help with reading and spelling.
Cognitive-communication skills for learning: For older students, this may include skills such as remembering information, staying organized, and checking their own work.
The services a child receives depend on their communication needs and how those needs affect their education. School SLPs also follow eligibility requirements and special education rules set by the school district and state.
“This means a child can have a communication difficulty but not qualify for school-based speech therapy,” explains Lexi Campbell, M.S., CCC-SLP, an Expressable speech therapist with experience in both school-based and teletherapy settings. She shares this example: “A child may have difficulty producing certain speech sounds but still be able to learn and participate in class. If their speech difficulties don’t significantly affect their education, they may not qualify for school-based services. However, they may still benefit from speech therapy to support their communication skills in everyday life, both during childhood and into adulthood.”
What are the benefits of private speech therapy?
Private speech therapy gives families a way to support a child's communication skills outside of school. It can offer more individualized goals, direct attention from a speech therapist, and more chances for families to take part in therapy.
1 Private speech therapy can address a broader range of goals
Private speech therapy is not limited to communication skills that affect a child's education. Depending on your child's needs, a private SLP may work on speech sounds, language, social communication, fluency, feeding, myofunctional therapy, voice problems, and executive functioning skills.
This can be helpful when your child has communication needs that are important at home or in the community but don’t affect their ability to participate at school. For example, a child with a tongue thrust may receive school-based therapy to address how it affects their speech sound production. However, private therapy may also address other concerns related to tongue posture, oral habits, or swallowing, depending on the child's needs. This allows therapy to target goals beyond those addressed through school-based services.
2 Private speech therapy can provide one-on-one attention
Many children receive school speech therapy in a group. When several children are working on different goals at the same time, the speech therapist has to divide their attention among the group.
“Private speech therapy is often provided one-on-one,” Campbell shares. “This gives the SLP more time to focus on your child's specific goals, interests, and communication style. Activities can also be adjusted as your child makes progress, even down to choosing games or activities that keep them interested and engaged!”
3 Parents and caregivers can be more involved
With private speech therapy, you have more chances to talk with your child's speech therapist. You can share updates, ask questions, and learn ways to support your child’s communication skills at home throughout home practice activities.
For example, the speech therapist may explain what your child worked on during the session and suggest a simple activity to try during a daily routine. Your child may see their speech therapist once or twice a week, but they spend much more time with you. Practicing skills during everyday activities gives your child more chances to use what they're learning, so they make faster progress.
Online speech therapy makes caregiver involvement even easier. With teletherapy, you can join your child during the session, watch the speech therapist model strategies, and learn how to use those same strategies between sessions.
Enable optional cookies to watch this video.
Can my child receive school and private speech therapy?
Your child can receive school-based and private speech therapy at the same time. The two types of therapy may focus on different goals, which gives your child support across school, home, and other parts of daily life.
For example, a school SLP may focus on communication skills that help your child learn and participate in class. A private SLP may spend more time on speech sounds, social communication, or another skill that is important to your child and family.
When possible, the two therapists can also work toward related goals and collaborate to support your child’s progress. By sharing strategies that are working well and brainstorming ways to practice skills at home, school, and in other places, both therapists can help your child use their communication skills in everyday life.
Wondering if your child could benefit from private speech therapy?
Schedule an evaluation to better understand your child’s communication needs and explore next steps.
Get startedIs school speech therapy enough for my child?
School speech therapy may be enough for some children, while others may need more support. It depends on your child's communication needs, progress, goals, and how their communication affects their school day.
Private speech therapy may be helpful when a child needs one-on-one attention, more practice, or help with communication skills that are important outside of school.
School-based therapy alone may be a good fit when:
Your child's communication needs are improving with school support. For example, your child’s speech may be getting easier to understand.
Your child is making progress toward their school-related communication goals. If your child is improving in areas that affect their ability to participate in class, access the learning material, or interact with others at school, school speech therapy may be meeting their needs.
The school setting works well for your family. School therapy happens during the school day, at no direct cost to families who qualify for services.
You may want to explore private speech therapy if:
Your child needs more one-on-one attention. Some children benefit from having more time to practice a specific skill with their therapist.
Your child's communication needs go beyond school. Private therapy can address communication skills that are important at home, in the community, or with friends, even when they don’t have a major effect on school performance.
Your child isn’t making a lot of progress. If your child has been working toward the same goals for awhile and you have concerns about their progress, talk with their SLP about next steps.
Your child has trouble using their new skills outside of therapy. Practicing communication skills in natural, everyday settings can help children apply what they learn in therapy to real life. Private speech therapy may provide more chances to practice skills in this way, especially when a parent or caregiver attends sessions and knows what their child is working on.
Your child needs a different type of support. Private therapy may offer one-on-one sessions, a different schedule, or an SLP with experience in a specific area of communication.
Your child does not qualify for school-based services. Private speech therapy does not use the same eligibility process, so it may be an option for children who don’t qualify for school speech therapy.
How long does speech therapy take? Learn what affects progress, how to speed up results, and how parents can support their child's development.
Talk with your child's school SLP
If you're not sure whether your child needs more support, start by talking with their school SLP. Ask about your child's current goals, progress, and whether the SLP thinks additional therapy could be helpful.
Expressable speech-language pathologist Kimberly Meschede, M.S., CCC-SLP, adds, “I encourage parents to directly ask their school speech therapist if they think their child could benefit from outside services. From my experience working in schools, most therapists embrace parents wanting more options to support their child. They wouldn’t be offended at all!”
Your child's SLP can help you understand how your child is doing at school and what types of support may be helpful. You can then decide whether school-based therapy, private therapy, or a combination of both makes sense for your child.
How teletherapy compares with school-based speech therapy
With online private speech therapy, your child meets with a licensed SLP through a secure video platform, usually from home.
Like other private speech therapy, teletherapy can focus on your child's individual communication goals. The main difference is the setting: instead of traveling to a clinic, your child receives therapy online!
How well does online speech therapy work?
Research shows that online speech therapy is effective for many children. A 2026 meta-analysis found significant improvements with both teletherapy and in-person therapy across several communication needs, including stuttering, speech sound disorders, dyslexia, and communication needs related to autism.
The success of speech therapy depends in large part on the skills and expertise of the SLP, not just whether the session happens online or in person. Teletherapy can also make it easier for parents and caregivers to take part in sessions and learn strategies they can use at home.
For example, an SLP may coach a parent during play, mealtime, or another daily routine. The parent can then use those same strategies between sessions, giving the child more chances to practice communication skills throughout the week.
Expressable's own clinical outcomes from more than 20,000 clients show strong progress among children receiving online speech therapy. According to Expressable data, 96% of clients make clinical progress within their first five sessions.
Ultimately, both in-person and online speech therapy can be effective when they are matched to a person's needs and provided by a qualified SLP. However, teletherapy may not be the best fit for every child. Their age, communication goals, access to technology, and need for caregiver support can all affect whether online therapy is a good option.
How does online speech therapy work? Learn how virtual speech therapy helps children and adults improve communication skills from the comfort of home.
Checklist: Is private speech therapy right for your child?
Private speech therapy may be worth exploring if you have concerns about your child's communication or feel they could use more support. Your child's school SLP, pediatrician, or another licensed professional can help you understand your options.
Before deciding, Campbell recommends considering these questions:
What communication goals is my child working on at school?
Is my child making progress toward those goals?
Are there communication needs that aren’t being addressed at school?
Would my child benefit from more time to practice a specific skill?
Would a different setting or schedule work better for our family?
Would it help to work with a speech therapist who has experience in my child's specific needs?
Would I like to be more involved in my child’s speech therapy?
There is no single therapy plan that works for every child. Some children may get the support they need through school-based services, while others may benefit from private therapy as well.
How much does private speech therapy cost?
Private speech therapy costs vary based on the provider, location, session length, and whether you use insurance. School-based speech therapy is provided through the public school system at no direct cost to families who qualify for services. Private therapy may involve a copay, coinsurance, deductible, or out-of-pocket payment.
Learn the pros and cons of private pay versus using insurance for speech therapy for adults and children, plus free options for young kids.
Does insurance cover speech therapy?
Some health insurance plans cover private speech therapy, but coverage varies. Your plan may have rules related to diagnosis, medical necessity, the number of sessions covered, or which therapists you can see.
Your costs may also depend on whether your SLP is in your insurance network. Before starting therapy, contact your insurance company to talk about your options. Ask about your speech therapy benefits, coverage limits, copays, deductibles, and in-network providers.
What if speech therapy isn't covered by insurance?
If your insurance does not cover speech therapy, you may be able to pay for services yourself. Some plans also offer out-of-network benefits, which may help cover part of the cost when you see a therapist outside your plan's network.
Depending on your situation, you may also be able to use a health savings account (HSA) or flexible spending account (FSA) for eligible speech therapy expenses. Check your plan's rules to confirm what expenses qualify.
It can also help to ask speech therapists about their rates, payment options, and any discounts or payment plans. Some speech therapists offer different session lengths or other options that may make therapy easier to fit into your budget.
If you're comparing insurance and self-pay options, learn more about the pros and cons of using insurance versus paying out of pocket for speech therapy.
Learn how to access and pay for speech therapy, through in-network and out-of-network health insurance benefits, private pay, and more.
How to find a private speech therapist for your child
If you decide to explore private speech therapy, look for a licensed speech-language pathologist whose experience and approach match your child's needs. You can find therapists through your health insurance plan, professional organizations, local practices, or online speech therapy providers.
You can also ask your child's pediatrician, school SLP, or other families for recommendations. As you compare speech therapists, consider these questions:
What experience do you have with my child's needs? Ask whether the SLP has worked with children who have similar communication goals or needs.
Which communication areas do you treat? SLPs can work on many areas, including speech sounds, language, social communication, fluency, and feeding.
What is your therapy approach? Ask how the SLP plans to work toward your child's goals and how they measure progress.
Do you offer in-person or online sessions? You may have the option to meet in a clinic, private practice, or through online speech therapy.
How long are sessions, and when are appointments available? Ask about session length and scheduling. Some providers offer appointments during evenings or weekends.
Do you accept insurance, and what payment options are available? Ask whether the therapist is in network with your insurance plan and whether they offer self-pay or other payment options.
How do you involve parents and caregivers? Caregiver involvement helps you learn strategies to use with your child at home, so they make faster progress. Ask how the SLP communicates with families and how you can take part in sessions.
“When choosing a provider, think about your child's needs, personality, and goals, as well as what works for your family's schedule,” says Campbell. “The right SLP is someone who can support your child's communication goals while making therapy comfortable and practical for your family.”
If you’re unsure whether your child could benefit from private speech therapy, you don’t have to figure it out alone. A licensed speech therapist can help you understand your child’s needs and talk through possible next steps. Reach out to Expressable today to get matched with a therapist!
Frequently asked questions (FAQs)
Yes. Children can receive private speech therapy through a clinic, private practice, or online speech therapist in addition to services they receive at school. Private therapy can address communication needs that may not qualify for school-based services or that affect a child outside of the school setting.
Yes. With the right communication and consent, school-based and private SLPs can share information and coordinate goals. Working together can help children practice similar communication skills across different settings, such as the classroom, home, and community.
A child who does not qualify for school-based speech therapy may still be able to benefit from private speech therapy. Private speech therapists use an individual evaluation to identify a child’s communication strengths, needs, and goals, rather than the school system’s eligibility requirements.
Some health insurance plans cover private speech therapy, but coverage varies by plan. Families should check their benefits for rules such as medical necessity, covered diagnoses, session limits, copays, deductibles, and in-network providers.
Online speech therapy works well for many children, depending on their communication goals, technology access, and need for caregiver support. Research has found that teletherapy can improve communication skills for children with a range of speech and language needs. It’s also a convenient option for busy families, and it’s easier for parents and caregivers to get involved.
How Expressable Can Help
Concerned your child isn't reaching age-expected milestones? Looking for communication support from a professional? Expressable is a national online speech and occupational therapy practice serving children and adults. We treat all major areas of communication, feeding, and developmental skills, offer flexible hours including evenings and weekends, and accept most major health insurance plans. We’re proud to have earned more than 4,500 5-star reviews from our clients (4.83/5 average).
Our therapy model is centered on parent and caregiver involvement. Research proves that empowering caregivers to participate in their loved one’s therapy leads to better outcomes. That’s why we combine live, 1-on-1 speech and occupational therapy with personalized education and home practice activities for faster progress.
