Case Study: Muskegon Heights Public School Academy System achieves student engagement and progress with PresenceLearning online speech therapy

Charter School Students Get Back on Track Using Online Speech Therapy

Muskegon Heights Public School Academy System (MHPSAS) in Muskegon Heights, MI faced severe challenges after years of mismanagement: students scored far below county averages on state tests, financial crises prompted an appointed Emergency Manager, and the district struggled to recruit qualified speech‑language pathologists to support special education students.

MHPSAS implemented online speech therapy through PresenceLearning to fill its SLP vacancy, serving 60 students across four schools. The virtual program overcame initial skepticism, increased engagement—especially among reluctant middle and high school students—produced noticeable breakthroughs, and even led students to ask for longer sessions, demonstrating strong rapport between therapists and learners.

Muskegon Heights Public School Academy System

Glenda Robinson-Scott

Supervisor of Special Education