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Semin Speech Lang 2012; 33(02): 102-110
DOI: 10.1055/s-0032-1310311
Thieme Medical Publishers 333 Seventh Avenue, New York, NY 10001, USA.

Speech-Language Pathologists and the Common Core Standards Initiative: An Opportunity for Leadership and Organizational Change

Jennifer Dunkle
1   The Ohio State University, Columbus, Ohio;
,
Perry Flynn
2   Department of Public Instruction in the area of Speech-Language Pathology, and Department of Communication Sciences and Disorders, University of North Carolina, Greensboro, North Carolina.
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Publication History

Publication Date:
26 April 2012 (online)

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Abstract

The Common Core State Standards initiative within public school education is designed to provide uniform guidelines for academic standards, including more explicit language targets. Speech-language pathologists (SLPs) are highly qualified language experts who may find new leadership roles within their clinical practice using the Common Core Standards. However, determining its usage by SLPs in clinical practice needs to be examined. This article seeks to discover the social context of organizations and organizational change in relation to clinical practice. Specifically, this article presents the diffusion of innovations theory to explain how initiatives move from ideas to institutionalization and the importance of social context in which these initiatives are introduced. Next, the values of both SLPs and organizations will be discussed. Finally, this article provides information on how to affect organizational change through the value of an affirmative, socially based theoretical perspective and methodology, appreciative inquiry.

Keywords

speech-language pathologists - organizational change - appreciative inquiry - common core standards - leadership
 

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