Psychologist

Who Are School Psychologists? 

School psychologists are uniquely qualified members of schools teams that support students' ability to learn and teachers' ability to teach.  They apply expertise in mental health, learning, and behavior to help children and youth succeed academically, socially, behaviorally, and emotionally.  School psychologists partner with families, teachers, school administrators, and other professionals to create safe, healthy, and supportive learning environments that strengthen connections between home, school, and the community. 

What Training Do School Psychologists Receive? 
School psychologists receive specialized advanced graduate preparation that includes coursework and practical experiences relevant to both psychology and education.  School psychologists typically complete either a specialist-level degree program (at least 60 graduate semester hours) or a doctoral degree (at least 90 graduate semester hours), both of which include a year-long 1200 hour supervised internship.

Graduate preparation develops knowledge and skills in: 

Data Collection and analysis  Assessment Progress monitoring  School-wide practices to promote learning Resilience and risk factors Consultation and collaboration  Academic/learning interventions  Mental health interventions Behavioral interventions

Instructional Support  Prevention and intervention services Special education services Crisis preparedness, response, and recovery Family-school-community collaboration Diversity in development and learning  Research and program evaluation Professional ethics, schools law, and systems

What do School Psychologists Do? 

Improve Academic Achievement

• Promote student motivation and engagement
• Conduct psychological and academic assessments
• Individualize instruction and interventions
• Manage student and classroom behavior
• Monitor student progress
• Collect and interpret student and classroom data
• Reduce inappropriate referrals to special education

 Promote Positive Behavior and Mental Health

• Improve student communication and social skills
• Assess student emotional and behavioral needs
• Provide individual and group counseling
• Promote problem solving, anger management and conflict resolution
• Reinforce positive coping skills and resilience
• Promote positive peer relationships and social problem solving 
• Make referrals to and help coordinate community services provided in schools

Support Diverse Learners

• Assess diverse learning needs
• Provide culturally responsive services to students and families from diverse backgrounds
• Plan appropriate Individualized Education Programs for students with disabilities
• Modify and adapt curricula and instruction
• Adjust classroom facilities and routines to improve student engagement and learning
• Monitor and effectively communicate with parents about student progress. 

Create Safe, Positive School Climates

• Prevent bullying and other forms of violence
• Support social-emotional learning
• Assess school climate and improve school connectedness
• Implement and promote positive discipline and restorative justice
• Implement school-wide positive behavioral supports
• Identify at risk students and school vulnerabilities 
• Provide crisis prevention and intervention services 

Strengthen Family-School Partnerships

• Help families understand their child's learning and mental health needs
• Assist in navigating special education processes
• Connect families with community service providers when necessary
• Help effectively engage families with teachers and other school staff
• Enhance staff understanding and responsiveness to diverse cultures and backgrounds
• Help students transition between school and community learning environments, such as residential treatment or juvenile justice programs

Improve School-Wide Assessments and Accountability

• Generate and interpret useful student and school outcome data
• Collect and analyze data on risk and protective factors related to student outcomes
• Plan services at the district, building, classroom, and individual levels 

Why  Do Children Need School Psychologists? 
All children and youth can face problems from time to time related to learning; social relationships; making difficult decisions; or managing emotions such as feeling depressed, anxious, worried, or isolated. School psychologists help students, families, educators, and members of the community understand and resolve both long-term, chronic problems and short-term issues that students may face. They are a highly skilled and ready resource in the effort to ensure that all children and youth thrive in school, at home, and in life. 


Copyright National Association of School Psychologists, 1999, 2000