A public postsecondary education institution with a degree program in speech-language pathology and a teacher education program, under the direction of the Council on Postsecondary Education, and in consultation with the Education Professional Standards Board and the Kentucky Board of Speech-Language Pathology and Audiology, shall:
(1) Align the programs of studies for speech-language pathology and teacher education to permit a student to successfully prepare for licensure as a speech-language pathology assistant and certification as a bachelor's level teacher of exceptional children/communication disorders;
(2) Increase the number of qualified students accepted into programs leading to licensure as a speech-language pathologist or speech-language pathology assistant and certification as a teacher of exceptional children/communication disorders, subject to:
(a) Requirements for program certification by national certifying bodies, including, but not limited to, student to faculty ratios;
(b) The strategic plans of the Council on Postsecondary Education and the postsecondary education institution; and (c) The budgetary considerations of the postsecondary education institution.
(3) Provide expanded opportunities for speech-language pathology assistants working in public schools to pursue licensure as a speech-language pathologist and certification as a teacher of exceptional children/communication disorders, which may include:
(a) Expanded opportunities for admission to on-campus programs;
(b) The development and expansion of distance learning opportunities in collaboration with the Kentucky Commonwealth Virtual University; and (c) Admissions requirements that take into account successful professional experience as a speech-language pathology assistant in lieu of other admissions requirements.