SCHOOL PSYCHOLOGY WEEKCalifornia Association of School Psychologists

School Psychology Week

• California School Psychology Week is held in conjunction with NASP’s School Psychology Awareness Week. Usually held the second week in November, this year’s event is November 10 - 14, 2014.

Let other’s know what you do!• The week offers an opportunity to publicize the

profession of school psychology. This is a chance to clarify that school psychologists do not only work with special education students, don’t only test and don’t only set up IEP meetings. With the Local Control Funding Formula (LCFF), school boards will have more decisions to make about such things as whether to hire school psychologists or more expensive mental health personnel not trained in education policies.

It’s time they get to know you.

School Psychology

• Trained in both psychology and education• Consultation/Assessment/Counseling and Program

Development and Evaluation• Provide assistance to school personnel and

parents regarding emotional, behavioraland learning challenges facing children

• Provide expertise in the area of systems change

School Psychology: A vision for addressing barriers to student learning

• School Psychologists and learning supports are the resources, strategies, and practices that provide physical, social, emotional, and intellectual supports intended to enable all pupils to have an equal opportunity for success at school.

• School Psychologists provide additional assistance to foster enhanced responsibility, problem-solving, resilience, and effective engagement in classroom learning

The School Psychology Credential

The specialization in School Psychology authorizes the holder to perform the following:

• Provide services that enhance academic performance • Design strategies and programs to address adjustment

problems • Consult with other educators and parents on issues of social

development and behavioral and academic difficulties • Conduct psycho-educational assessment for purposes of

identifying special needs • Provide psychological counseling for individuals, groups, and

families • Coordinate intervention strategies for management of

individuals and school-wide crises

What School Psychologists Do

•School psychologists tailor their services to the particular needs of each child and each situation.

•They provide mental health services that address needs at home and school to help students succeed academically, emotionally, and socially.

•School psychologists use many different approaches, but most provide these core services:

What School Psychologists Do

Consultation:• Give healthy and effective alternatives to teachers,

parents, and administrators about problems in learning and behavior

• Assist others in understanding child development and how it affects learning and behavior

• Strengthen working relationships between educators, parents and community services

What School Psychologists DoIntervention• Promote healthy learning behaviors through the development of positive behavioral support plans and the use of scientific, research-based instruction.

• Work one-on-one with children and families

• Help solve conflicts and problems in learning and adjustment

• Provide psychological counseling for children and families

• Provide social skills training, behavior management, and other strategies

• Provide guidance to families and schools with crises, such as separation, loss, and tragedies at home or at school

What School Psychologists Do

Prevention

• Identify potential learning difficulties

• Design programs for children at risk of failure

• Provide parents and teachers with the skills to cope with disruptive behavior

• Foster tolerance, understanding and appreciation of diversity in the school community

• Develop initiatives for safe and effective schools

What School Psychologists Do

EducationDevelop programs on topics such as:

• Teaching and learning strategies

• Classroom management techniques

• Working with students who have disabilities or unusual talents

• Substance abuse

• Crisis management

• Anti-bullying programs and more

What School Psychologists Do

Research and Planning• Evaluate the effectiveness of academic programs,

behavior management systems, and other services• Generate new knowledge about learning and behavior• Contribute to planning and evaluating school-wide reform

and restructuring

What School Psychologists Do

AssessmentUse a variety of techniques at an individual, group, and

systems level to evaluate:• Academic skills• Learning aptitudes• Personality and emotional development• Social skills• Learning environments and school climate• Eligibility for special education

What School Psychologists Do

Health Care Provision• Collaborate with school and community-based personnel

to provide a comprehensive model of school-linked health services

• Work with children and families to provide integrated community services focusing on psychosocial wellness and health-related issues

• Develop partnerships with parents and teachers to create healthy school environments

Bonus! Licensed Educational Psychologists can sign off on MediCal reimbursments. They are likely already on staff.

What School Psychologists Do

• As you can see, school psychologists do more than just testing and writing reports and play a crucial role in K-12 education.

• Recap:- Consultation- Intervention- Prevention- Education- Research & Planning- Assessment- Health Care Provision

Where School Psychologists Work

The majority of school psychologists are employed in public and private school systems. However, school psychologists practice in a variety of settings including:

• Public and Private Schools

• School-Based Health Centers

• Clinics and Hospitals

• Private Practice

• Universities, Community and State Agencies, and Other Institutions

Requirements for the Clear Credential – Specialization in School PsychologyIndividuals who completed their program on or after July 1, 2004 must satisfy all the

following: 1. A baccalaureate degree or higher, except in professional education, from a regionally

accredited college or university.

2. Complete a professional program of post baccalaureate degree study consisting of a minimum of 60 semester units specializing in school psychology, including a practicum requirement and supervised field experience. Programs accredited by the National Association of School Psychologists (NASP) meet this requirement.

• The program must have included 1200 clock hours of supervised field experience with school-aged children (or 540 clock hours if the program was completed prior to July 1, 2004)

• Prior to the field experience, a minimum of 450 clock hours of practicum is required, of which 300 clock hours must be in preschool to grade 12. Up to150 clock hours of the required 300 clock hours may be offered through on-campus or community agencies.

• A letter verifying practicum and field experience must be on official letterhead from the college or university’s education department and must accompany the application packet.