SCHOOL PSYCHOLOGY WEEK
California 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 11 - 15, 2013.
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, behavioral
and 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
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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 Do
Intervention
• Promote healthy learning behaviors through the development of
positive behavioral support plans and the use of scientific, researchbased 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
Education
Develop 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
Assessment
Use 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.
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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 Psychology
Individuals 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.