Can a licensed assistant complete progress reports for student report cards?

In the field of speech-language pathology, certain responsibilities are clearly delineated to ensure the quality and integrity of patient care and documentation. A licensed assistant is trained to support a licensed speech-language pathologist (SLP) in various tasks, but the completion of progress reports for student report cards falls within the scope of evaluative and judgment-based responsibilities.

Progress reports require a professional clinical judgment, including the assessment of a student's progress in therapy, which is a determination of effectiveness and outcome based on their ongoing evaluation. This type of analytical task typically necessitates the expertise of a licensed SLP, as it involves interpreting data and making clinically reasoned decisions about a student's performance and future needs. The SLP is responsible for ensuring that all documentation reflects accurate assessments of the individual’s progress.

Hence, since progress reports demand an evaluative and judgment capacity that a licensed assistant is not authorized to carry out independently, this aligns with ensuring competent and ethical practices in the field.