The South Dakota Board of Education on Monday allowed Mitchell Technical Institute to offer a speech language pathology assistant program starting next fall.

Educators say the program will be the only one of its kind in the state.

It will be offered as a two-year associate of applied science degree. Mark Wilson, director of the state Department of Educations Office of Curriculum, Career and Technical Education, says it will fill a critical need in health care and educational services offered to students in the K-12 system.

Vicki Wiese, Mitchell Technical Institute vice president, says her school has had support from across the state for the program.

A July 2008 study by the South Dakota Healthcare Workforce Center identified the speech language pathology occupation as a priority.

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