| Like educators, speech-language pathologists can anticipate working with culturally and linguistically diverse students and their families. Data reported from the Study of Personnel Needs in Special Education (SPeNSE), 1999--2000, revealed that during the years 1999--2000 speech-language pathologists' caseloads included students from various culturally and linguistically diverse groups (U.S. Department of Education, Office of Special Education Programs, 2001). Furthermore, on average, more than one-fourth of students seen by speech-language pathologists were from a culturally and/or linguistically diverse group than their own and 8.8% were English language learners (U.S. Department of Education, 2001). Thus, guaranteeing a highly qualified pool of speech-language pathologists to meet these students' needs is essential.;This study examined speech-language pathologists' (a) beliefs about the language assessment of bilingual/bicultural/bidialectal students, (b) professional efficacy beliefs (both personal and general) as they relate to assessing the language skills of bilingual/bicultural/bidialectal students, and (c) reported supports and barriers to assessing the language skills of bilingual/bicultural/bidialectal students. It involved a mixed method research design (Tashakkori & Teddlie, 1998, 2002) and was organized into three central components that included a quantitative phase and a qualitative phase: (a) survey administration, (b) reflective analysis of the researcher's experience as a speech-language pathologist, and (c) follow-up semi-structured interviews.;Quantitative analyses of speech-language pathologists' professional efficacy beliefs revealed that most speech-language pathologists believed they personally, and the field in general, were "somewhat competent" in assessing the language skills of bilingual/bicultural/bidialectal students. While none of the predictor variables were significantly related to personal efficacy, one of the predictor variables (Hispanic/Latino) was significantly related to general efficacy.;Qualitative analysis of speech-language pathologists' professional efficacy beliefs varied as a function of race/ethnicity. Higher beliefs of personal efficacy existed among speech-language pathologists of color. Perceived supports and barriers as well as the demographics of survey respondents, which highlight low numbers of speech-language pathologists from bilingual/bicultural/bidialectal backgrounds, confirmed the need to address assessment and intervention practices of bilingual/bicultural/bidialectal students. |
