We are so happy you have found this resource! As school based SLPs, it is our mission to create a resource that helps make your life easier while maintaining best practice. We know you are busy and that trying to learn a new program can be more overwhelming than helpful.

We would highly recommend the following resources that will help you get the most out of the software:

To access the features in SLP Toolkit you will need to create a student. There is a simple way to import your entire caseload, but if you aren't ready for that step, select a student that is due for their annual review and start there. The only required fields are first and last name, so don't worry about entering in all of the student demographics yet.

To quickly enter your entire caseload, you can opt to enter only your students’ names (first and last). Or you can import your caseload from a .csv file by following this tutorial.

You also have the option to enter and store more detailed information on each student. Once information is entered, your caseload can be sorted based on the data you entered by the headers at the top.

You can edit or add detailed student information at any time right from the caseload screen. If you would like to add more information, click on the 'Actions' button at the end of the student’s information on the Caseload screen, then select Edit Details from the drop down. After you enter/update information, be sure to click the Update button at the bottom of the page. (Note: If you do not hit Update, your information will not be saved.)

To delete a student from your caseload, go to the Caseload screen. Check the box next to the student and select the 'Actions' button at the top of the screen. You can then delete or archive the student. You will be prompted to verify this decision. Once a student is archived, the student will move off of your active caseload list and into the 'Archived Students' section. If you select 'Delete Students', the student and all associated data is deleted from your account and cannot be retrieved.

To work with a specific student, click on the student icon next to the student's name from your caseload list or simply go the the 'Students' screen which is the next tab over. Here, you have options to create (1) IEP Dates; (2) Present Level Assessments; (3) Progress Monitoring tests; (3) Goals; or (4) Strategies and Accommodations.

Present Level Assessments™ (PLAs) are assessment tools that are created to measure both speech and language skills. The language PLAs are leveled by grade band (Preschool, Kindergarten, 1-2, 3-5, 6-8, and 9-12). The articulation PLAs have an option for either preschool, which focuses on early developing sounds, or school-aged, which focuses on later developing sounds. Currently, there are two versions of the language PLAs for KG, 1-2, and 3-5 grade bands, and one version for the preschool, 6-8, and 9-12 grade bands. Information has been vetted with current research (developmental standards, academic standards, and critical language skills needed for academic tasks) and used with typical students for reliability. When working in PLAs, information is autosaved by the app. To revisit a PLA that is in progress or done, click the name of the PLA. When you want it off of your active list, click 'Actions' at the end of the test name. You will have the choice to archive the test to save for later or delete it and all of its data.

PLAs are not standardized or norm referenced measures and are not intended for eligibility purposes. Rather, they are designed to be an efficient way to determine a student’s strengths and needs for development of present levels in Individualized Education Programs. In addition, they can be used for initial screening referrals for students not currently in special education to help guide strategic pre-referral interventions prior to evaluation. PLAs guide your clinical judgment. They do not replace it.

The Progress Monitoring section has a plethora of Criterion Referenced Tests and Rubrics to collect more data on flagged items from the PLA. These tools allow you to collect concrete baseline data as well as the ability to continue progress monitoring of those same skills. Tools have been created for the following areas: (1) a Universal Language Rubric that can be used on any communication skill; (2) Cognitive – comprised of executive function and memory; (3) Expressive/Receptive Language – comprised of comprehension, concepts, narrative, phonemic awareness, semantics, and syntax/morphology; (4) Fluency; (5) Social Language; (6) Speech Sound Production – comprised of articulation and phonological processes; and (7) Voice/Resonance.

Note: If you are unfamiliar with how to use Criterion Referenced Tests and Rubrics in speech therapy, there is a post on our blog outlining the benefits of using such tools here.

Any active tests that have already been created for a student will appear on the student's main screen under 'Progress Monitoring'. To search for a new test to create for a student, click 'Collect More Data.' You can search for a test either by keyword or by category. If you are unsure of whether or not a test is right for a student, you can choose to Preview a test and take a look at its contents; however, to start the test and record data, you must be in the New test mode. You can also create your own custom test or rubric by selecting 'Create Your Own' in the Progress Monitoring Library.

Goals can be added right from the student dashboard screen by selecting 'Add My Own Goal'; or can be created using the goal generator by selecting 'Help Me Write a Goal'. The Goals section is divided into various communication categories. Once a category is selected, you have the option to choose a pre-populated goal (1) or create your own using the customizable drop down menu (2). When you are finished, click the Use button (3) and it will appear in the text box at the bottom (4). In the text box, you can further edit the text and customize the goal if desired. You can also copy from here to add to paste into the student’s IEP. When finished, hit Create (5) and the goal will be saved for that student on their page under the 'Goals' header.

*Note: If you write in an IEP that you are using a rubric to measure a goal, you must print and attach a copy of the rubric to your IEP document.

Created goals look like this. Select the 'Actions' button next a goal to add an objective, archive/delete, print, or copy the goal.

The Strategies/Accommodations section is a bank of strategies that teachers/parents can use to enhance speech and language skills. These can also be used as accommodations in a student’s IEP. Strategies are listed for speech/language disorders as well as a variety of other areas (e.g. Autism, memory, word retrieval, etc.). These can be found under the main 'Actions' button at the top of the student's page.

Once you choose an area, a list of strategies will appear. Select the ones you want to use, click the Copy button at the bottom, and you can then paste the information into whatever document you choose (e.g. into the IEP, or into a document to print and send home with the student). Note: Pasting defaults to including the student information you entered into the caseload screen (e.g. name, teacher name, IEP data, etc.), so delete that information if needed. When finished, click Done and the strategies will appear in the Strategies/Accommodations section.

Archive is where you will find information you have previously created for that student but no longer want in an annual review period. To access archived data, go to the 'Students' screen, select 'Actions' at the top, and select 'View Archived Data' from the drop down.

The SLP Toolkit Companion Image Viewer is a companion app accessible from your smartphone, tablet, or another computer. This allows you to view images from PLAs and Progress Monitoring Tools (PMTs) on one device and record responses on another. To access the images, go to viewer.slptoolkit.com, then login using the same credentials you use for your regular SLP Toolkit account.

Images in the Viewer are sorted by assessments, progress monitoring tools, and lesson plans. They are listed in alphabetical order for easy retrieval.

That’s it! You should quickly be up and running in no time.

Welcome to SLP Toolkit! We truly hope it helps you to “Be your /bɛst/.”