Now school districts can easily recoup costs of online speech-language pathology services for Medicaid-eligible students

SAN FRANCISCO, Feb. 13, 2012 – PresenceLearning (www.presencelearning.com), the leading provider of live online speech therapy services to K-12 students, has partnered with Go Solutions Group, Inc. (http://www.go-sgi.com), a leading provider of special education data management and Medicaid reimbursement services to school districts in Ohio and eight other states, to help facilitate access to its services for districts with under-served populations. This partnership will help school districts reach more special needs students, improve outcomes and realize the cost efficiencies offered by incorporating live online speech therapy, often referred to as telepractice, into their special education programs.

“To make 21st century learning a reality for students, administrators need reliable, proven technology companies like Go Solutions and PresenceLearning working together to help schools both improve outcomes and reduce costs,” said Clay Whitehead, one of the founders of PresenceLearning. “With decades of experience and expertise, Go Solutions Group, Inc. helps districts navigate the complex and ever-changing arena of federal and state compliance in special education services and Medicaid reimbursement.”

“Midwestern states such as Ohio, and others with significant rural populations, have shown leadership by clarifying their policies in support of Medicaid reimbursement for telepractice speech therapy,” said Matt Flaminio, President of Go Solutions Group, Inc. “We are delighted to have PresenceLearning as a partner to reach special needs students using digital-age therapists and engaging, online speech-language pathology services.”

PresenceLearning delivers live, online speech therapy using a large and growing network of fully-credentialed speech language pathologists (SLPs). SLPs work with students face-to-face in real time via live videoconferencing sessions, using established, evidence-based therapeutic practices, without the scheduling and geographic limitations of conventional therapy. SLPs work flexible hours from home without having to travel, taking advantage of PresenceLearning’s scheduling, tracking and reporting tools, as well as its unique suite of interactive activities that make the therapy experience highly-engaging for students.

About PresenceLearning
PresenceLearning (www.presencelearning.com) is the leading provider of live online speech therapy services (also known as telepractice) for K-12 students. The company offers school districts web-based access to a nationwide network of highly -qualified speech language pathologists (SLPs) via live videoconferencing using the latest in evidence-based practices. PresenceLearning delivers large cost savings while improving student outcomes. PresenceLearning is an ASHA-approved continuing education provider for SLPs and a U.S. Department of Education grant-winner, dedicated to bringing the highest clinical standards to telepractice.

About Go Solutions Group
Since 1994, Go Solutions Group (http://www.go-sgi.com) has worked in partnership with schools across the United States. With over 80 years of combined national experience in special education services tracking and school-based Medicaid reimbursement, both for Medicaid Administrative Claiming and Fee for Service (direct service) Claiming, client schools have the reassurance that they are working with some of the most knowledgeable professionals in the industry.
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Media Contacts:

Katie Povejsil, Vice President of Marketing
PresenceLearning
1.415.625.0150
katie@presencelearning.com

Contact at Go Solutions Group
Matt Flaminio, President
1.800.260.2544
matthew.flaminio@go-sgi.com

Christine Allman, Public Relations for PresenceLearning
1.410.975.9638
christine@kehcomm.com

Leading live online speech therapy provider recognized for its impact in transforming special education

 
SAN FRANCISCO, January 10, 2012 – PresenceLearning (www.presencelearning.com), the leading provider of live online speech therapy services to K-12 students, was recently named a Cool Tool winner for special needs in the EdTech Digest Awards. The awards program debuted in 2011 and honors products and individuals for their outstanding contributions in transforming education through technology to enrich the lives of learners everywhere.

 
“In a crowded field of entries, it’s exciting to acknowledge those companies and products making the biggest difference,” says Victor Rivero, editor-in-chief of EdTech Digest. “Quality, access and real results are the defining characteristics of our honorees, and will be precisely what moves education forward into its next iteration.”

Over the past year, PresenceLearning’s online therapy services have been adopted by a growing number of educational organizations, including dozens of traditional school districts and many virtual academy and charter school management groups. To date, PresenceLearning has delivered more than 10,000 speech therapy sessions and is expected to exceed 20,000 sessions in the coming months. In the face of continuing budget challenges, as well as chronic shortages of speech language pathologists in many areas, school districts are realizing significant cost savings with PresenceLearning while also seeing better outcomes for their students.

“Children today are digital natives and PresenceLearning’s technology allows them to experience clinical services in a much more engaging format,” says Jack Lynch, one of the co-founders of PresenceLearning. “The result is better outcomes.”

“Through our online platform, we are able to deliver high-quality, evidence-based speech language services to students who need them,” continues Clay Whitehead, PresenceLearning co-founder. “Our districts see an immediate benefit from our services and we are happy to be acknowledged for our work in the area of special education.”

 
About EdTech Digest
EdTech Digest celebrates all the latest technologies moving education forward, delving deeper into the stories of the people behind the technology to discover what truly drives them to conceptualize, create, develop and deploy their ideas to the masses. Featuring movers and shakers in and around education who are dedicated to making a difference for our future generations, editorial focus is on the topical and current to thought-leader broadviews. The EdTech Digest Awards Program recognizes the best and brightest people and transformative technology products and services in education. To learn more, visit www.edtechdigest.com.

About PresenceLearning
PresenceLearning (www.presencelearning.com) is the leading provider of live online speech therapy services (also known as telepractice) for K-12 students. The company offers school districts web-based access to a growing, nationwide network of over 130 highly qualified speech language pathologists (SLPs) via live videoconferencing using the latest in evidence-based practices. PresenceLearning delivers large cost savings while improving student outcomes. PresenceLearning is an ASHA-approved continuing education provider for SLPs and a U.S. Department of Education grant-winner, dedicated to bringing the highest clinical standards to telepractice.

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Katie Povejsil, Vice President of Marketing, PresenceLearning
415.625.0150
katie@presencelearning.com

Christine Allman, Public Relations for PresenceLearning
410.975.9638
christine@kehcomm.com

Both therapists and students stand to lose with the newest proposed budget cuts in Texas. According to a recent article on the Star-Telegram website, the proposed cuts in government healthcare reimbursement rates could hurt the sickest and poorest Texas patients, with a majority of them being children.

Comprehensive outpatient rehabilitation facilities and outpatient physical therapy and speech pathology facilities will see an average reduction of 54 percent which could leave many without essential services for their child. Currently, Medicaid provides services for roughly 3.4 million people in Texas with a majority of them being low income children, blind, elderly and disabled. Dr. C. Bruce Malone, president of the Texas Medical Association, expressed concern regarding the cuts. He stated that they could result in fewer physicians willing to set up a practice in the communities that need them the most.

As budgets continue to be cut across the country, it is essential that schools be able to provide cost-effective speech-language pathology services to their students. With PresenceLearning’s large network of highly-qualified speech-language pathologists available to districts and students via a live video-conferencing environment, we provide a very cost-effective solution to districts that struggle to provide sufficient speech services for students.

To find out how your district can save money on high-quality speech therapy services, visit: http://presencelearning.com/ or call 415.512.9000.

 Article: http://www.star-telegram.com/2011/11/20/3540533/texas-may-cut-medicaid-reimbursements.html#tvg#ixzz1eNNosbcB

Tom Vander Ark’s recently published book, Getting Smart: How Digital Learning is Changing the World, explores the benefits of customized learning, improved student motivation and equalization present in blended learning environments. As the current founder of GettingSmart.com, CEO of Open Education Solutions and a partner in Learn Capital, Vander Ark provides his targeted insight on how environments that blend online and onsite elements have been successful. Also included in this book is a look at the benefits of continuing a blended learning approach and how not providing for and supporting this development can create an unfortunate barrier for education.

With PresenceLearning’s large network of highly qualified speech-language pathologists available to students via live online tele-sessions, school districts now have a highly effective—and cost-effective—way to provide a blended learning approach for students with speech-language disorders.

To find out how your district can efficiently implement blended learning using high quality speech therapy services, visit: http://presencelearning.com/ or call 415.512.9000.

PresenceLearning addresses charter schools’ unique challenge of providing access to quality speech-language pathology services

 
SAN FRANCISCO, Nov. 29, 2011 – PresenceLearning (www.presencelearning.com), the leading provider of live online speech therapy services to K-12 students, has been adopted by charter school organizations such as Aspire, Imagine, Leadership Public Schools, Mosaica, Thomas Edison and Ballington Academy to deliver speech-language therapy services to their special education students. PresenceLearning is now delivering more than 5,000 live sessions per month to students in charter, virtual and traditional public schools across 16 states.

“Charter schools face unique challenges when it comes to serving special education students,” said Clay Whitehead, one of the co-founders of PresenceLearning. “As part of the public school system, charter schools are fully accountable for providing special education services and complying with IEPs, but their smaller scale means they have different needs and requirements compared to traditional districts. Leveraging PresenceLearning allows charters to grow in their unique missions while successfully serving a more diverse student population.”

Ms. Grace Jiminez, School Director at Ballington Academy of Arts and Sciences (www.ballingtonacademy.org), a charter school in southern California, says “We have found PresenceLearning and their services to be very friendly, accessible and effective. Also, it’s nice to not have to worry about the HR side of things – no recruiting, no interviews, no screening – it’s very clean and smooth. PresenceLearning saves us money and delivers excellent quality.”

Over the past year, a growing number of organizations have adopted PresenceLearning’s live online therapy services, including dozens of traditional school districts and many virtual academy and charter school management groups. In the face of continuing budget challenges, as well as chronic shortages of SLPs in many areas, schools are realizing significant cost savings with PresenceLearning while also seeing better IEP outcomes for their students.

About PresenceLearning
PresenceLearning (www.presencelearning.com) is the leading provider of live online speech therapy services (also known as telepractice) for K-12 students. The company offers school districts web-based access to a growing, nationwide network of over 100 highly qualified speech language pathologists (SLPs) via live videoconferencing using the latest in evidence-based practices. PresenceLearning delivers large cost savings while improving student outcomes. PresenceLearning is an ASHA-approved continuing education provider for SLPs and a U.S. Department of Education grant-winner, dedicated to bringing the highest clinical standards to telepractice.

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Katie Povejsil, Vice President of Marketing, PresenceLearning
415.625.0150
katie@presencelearning.com

Christine Allman, Public Relations for PresenceLearning
410.975.9638
christine@kehcomm.com

According to an article on KRWG TV, starting on January 4th, 2012, Las Cruces students in the Developmentally Delayed Early Childhood Pre-School Program at Las Cruces Public Schools (LCPS) in New Mexico who currently receive speech-only services will no longer be eligible for services due to budgetary cutbacks. 

According to the article this cut in services will affect 82 students within the program. 

With budget cuts taking place around the country, many student services, including speech therapy as seen at LCPS schools, are being reduced or eliminated. Speech therapy has incredible benefits for both students and districts. Early speech therapy can help students enter kindergarten without the need for special education services. Yet, as districts continue to make tough decisions on cuts, and with the lack of speech therapists around the country, oftentimes this is a service that does not make it through cuts.

With PresenceLearning’s large network of highly qualified speech-language pathologists available to districts and students via a virtual environment, we provide a very cost-effective solution to districts that might otherwise not be able to afford speech services for students.

To save your district money on high quality speech therapy services, visit: http://presencelearning.com/ or call 415.512.9000.

Article:  http://www.publicbroadcasting.net/krwg/news/news.newsmain/article/1/0/1873270/Regional/State.Budget.Cuts.Will.End.Services.To.Some.Las.Cruces.Students

In a recent New York Times story, a young man by the name of Philip Garber Jr. went public following an incident with his professor at County College of Morris in Randolph, New Jersey. According to the October 10th article, Garber was asked by one of his teachers at the college not to raise his hand during his history class, but rather to pose his questions before or after class to prevent disrupting the other students. He was asked this, according to Garber, because of his stutter. Following this request by his teacher, Garber raised his hand in class to ask a question and was ignored; and while Garber kept his hand raised for much of the 75-minute class he was never called on. This experience was confusing to Garber because he spent most of his academic years being homeschooled.

While stuttering can require patience on the part of both the listener and the speaker, it is important to note that individuals who suffer from stuttering are suffering from a disability. With PresenceLearning’s nationwide network of highly-qualified speech language pathologists (SLPs), students like Garber can receive treatment via live videoconferencing using the latest in evidence-based practices.

“One of the great things about telepractice is our flexibility. It is important to pair your child with the best possible person to provide them the treatment they need,” said Clay Whitehead, co-founder of PresenceLearning. “If we find that someone is not a best fit for a student, we have the ability to provide them with an alternative which is not always possible at a school.”

To learn more about stuttering, how it is diagnosed and tips on how to better communicate with a stutterer, visit: www.asha.org/public/speech/disorders/stuttering.htm

To read Garber’s story, go to http://www.nytimes.com/2011/10/11/education/11stutter.html?_r=1

PresenceLearning Gains Traction with Virtual Schools

Live online speech therapy service helps virtual schools meet the needs of diverse learners 

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

SAN FRANCISCO, Nov. 7, 2011 – PresenceLearning (www.presencelearning.com), the leading provider of live online speech therapy services to K-12 students, provides services to more than 20 online schools across the U.S. for their special education students.

“Virtual schools have found our service very helpful for their highly distributed populations of students requiring speech therapy,” said Clay Whitehead, one of the co-founders of PresenceLearning. “Virtual school organizations have discovered that PresenceLearning enables them to broaden their reach to students with special needs and cost-effectively deliver the speech-language therapy they need to be academically successful.”

Over the past year, PresenceLearning’s online therapy services have been adopted by a growing number of educational organizations, including dozens of traditional school districts, charter school management groups and many virtual academies such as the California Virtual Academy (CAVA), Washington Virtual Academy (WAVA) and Mosaica. PresenceLearning now delivers more than 5,000 speech therapy sessions monthly to students nationwide. In the face of continuing budget pressures and chronic shortages of speech language pathologists in many areas, educational organizations are realizing significant cost savings with PresenceLearning while also seeing better outcomes for their students.

Angie Guterres, California Virtual Academies’ Provider Coordinator for Special Services struggled for years to find speech-language pathologists to serve their widely dispersed student population. “It was incredibly frustrating and expensive,” she says.

After years of difficulty, Guterres learned of PresenceLearning’s live online speech therapy services. “I found out that telepractice is both approved and proven,” she says. “It’s been fantastic. The response from our special ed teachers has been very positive. Parents and students love the therapists and the highly visual and interactive computer-based platform.” She estimates that CAVA saved tens of thousands of dollars in the first year and she has expanded the program to several hundred students this year. “I would recommend it to other schools in a heartbeat. I’d say, ‘Stop what you’re doing and use PresenceLearning.’”

About PresenceLearning
PresenceLearning (www.presencelearning.com) is the leading provider of live online speech therapy services (also known as telepractice) for K-12 students. The company offers school districts web-based access to a nationwide network of highly -qualified speech language pathologists (SLPs) via live videoconferencing using the latest in evidence-based practices. PresenceLearning delivers large cost savings while improving student outcomes. PresenceLearning is an ASHA-approved continuing education provider for SLPs and a U.S. Department of Education grant-winner, dedicated to bringing the highest clinical standards to telepractice.

About The California Virtual Academies 
The California Virtual Academies use the K¹² curriculum to offer California students in grades K–12 an exceptional learning experience. California Virtual Academies (CAVA) operates publicly funded online charter schools, serving roughly 13,000 K-12 students across the state. Founded in 2002, CAVA has grown adept at delivering individualized learning experiences to a diverse and widely dispersed student body beyond the walls of a typical school. www.k12.com/cava

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Katie Povejsil, Vice President of Marketing, PresenceLearning
415.625.0150
katie@presencelearning.com

Christine Allman, Public Relations for PresenceLearning
410.975.9638
christine@kehcomm.com

Patricia Harrison, MA, CCC-SLP, a clinician at Wexford Missaukee Intermediate School District in Cadillac, Michigan shared her heart-felt story on ASHA’s publication the LEADER, along with a call to action to get involved when bullying is taking place. 

Harrison knows first-hand how difficult it is for students to make it through school unscathed, especially when the student has a physical or learning disability. On February 7, 2009, Patricia’s husband found their 16-year-old son, Alex, had committed suicide a little less than two miles from the family’s home. A note revealed that their son, like many other children with social differences, took his life as a result of repeated and unbearable bullying. Unfortunately, Patricia’s story is one that is becoming more common, especially with students’ increased access to social media. Many students with learning, social, speech, and developmental differences can find it difficult, sometimes even impossible, to escape bullying and harassment.

“Through therapy, through verbal support, through games and fun, and even through just being a consistent adult presence, our company and our therapists are all making a big difference in these students’ lives,” said Clay Whitehead, co-founder of PresenceLearning, the leading provider of online speech/language therapy services to schools. “This difference we are making is real.” 

PresenceLearning, agrees with Harrison that every individual who works with children should get involved in anti-bullying programs. Below are some sites that offer resources:

http://www.stopbullying.gov/

http://www.pacerkidsagainstbullying.org/

http://www.cartoonnetwork.com/promos/stopbullying/index.html?atclk_gn=link_shw_Stop-Bullying:-Speak-Up

  Highly-Rated Ohio School District Selects ‘PresenceLearning’

for Online Speech Therapy 

Clinton-Massie Local Schools uses innovation to improve special education while saving taxpayers money

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

SAN FRANCISCO, September 28, 2011 – PresenceLearning (PresenceLearning.com), the leading provider of live online speech therapy to K-12 students, has been selected by Clinton-Massie Local Schools to deliver services to its special education students. PresenceLearning’s unique videoconferencing platform and nationwide network of fully-qualified speech language pathologists (SLPs) helps districts improve overall outcomes for speech/language therapy students while saving 10% or more on costs.

The Clinton-Massie school district has earned the “Excellent with Distinction” rating from the Ohio Department of Education, the highest that an Ohio district can attain. Dr. Michael Sander, superintendent of this K-12 district, says, “The Clinton-Massie Board of Education is constantly looking at ways to provide better quality services to our community while giving our taxpayers the biggest bang for their buck.  Our district has managed to increase student achievement while cutting approximately 7% of its budget – not many districts can say that. We were excited to learn that the PresenceLearning solution could help us control our costs while improving our outcomes. This is a win for everyone.”

“Public school districts like Clinton-Massie are increasingly interested in solutions that improve outcomes and reduce costs at the same time,” said Clay Whitehead, one of the co-founders of PresenceLearning. “Our customers have discovered that PresenceLearning helps them better serve their special needs students while responding to persistent budget pressures.”

Over the past year, PresenceLearning’s online therapy services have been adopted by a growing number of educational organizations, including dozens of public school districts and many virtual academy and charter school management groups. To date, PresenceLearning has delivered nearly 20,000 speech therapy sessions and is adding hundreds of new students every month. In the face of continuing budget challenges, as well as chronic shortages of speech language pathologists in many areas, school districts are realizing significant cost savings with PresenceLearning while also seeing better outcomes for their students.

About Clinton-Massie Local Schools
The Clinton-Massie Local School District is a K-12 district of nearly 2,000 students in southwestern Ohio, about 40 miles from Dayton. The mission of the Clinton-Massie Local School District is to provide students with the best education possible to develop well-rounded, life-long learners who become functioning members of our ever-changing world.

About PresenceLearning
PresenceLearning (www.presencelearning.com) is the leading provider of live online speech therapy services (also known as telepractice) for K-12 students. The company offers school districts web-based access to a nationwide network of highly -qualified speech language pathologists (SLPs) via live videoconferencing using the latest in evidence-based practices. PresenceLearning delivers large cost savings while improving student outcomes. PresenceLearning is an ASHA-approved continuing education provider for SLPs and a U.S. Department of Education grant-winner, dedicated to bringing the highest clinical standards to telepractice.

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 Media Contacts

Katie Povejsil, Vice President of Marketing, PresenceLearning
415.625.0150
katie@presencelearning.com

Mike Sander, Superintendent, Clinton-Massie Local Schools
937.289.2471 x 1401
msander@clinton-massie.k12.oh.us

Christine Allman, Public Relations for PresenceLearning
410.975.9638
christine@kehcomm.com