In 1991, Florida passed legislation requiring a master's degree as the professional standard for certification to provide speech and language services in Florida's public schools. The purpose of this rule was to establish certification consistent with American Speech-Language-Hearing Association standards. However, since that time, the insufficient number of master's-level professionals available to provide services to students with speech and language disabilities in the public schools has been a growing concern. Of particular concern is the shortage of these professionals in Florida's sparsely populated districts. This report contains recommendations from a task force appointed by the Commissioner of Education to address the speech-language service needs of these districts. The task force recommends the adoption of two State Board of Education rules to allow bachelor's-level speech and language personnel to provide services to school districts that qualify for the sparsity supplement under the Florida Education Finance Program, with a limited scope of practice under the direction of a master's-level speech and language pathologist. Appendices include a list of districts eligible for the sparsity supplement for 2000-2001, appointment correspondence and task force membership list, current Florida State Board of Education Rules and Statues, and task force meeting agendas, minutes, and meeting handouts. (CR)