SCHOOL PSYCHOLOGY WEEK California Association of School Psychologists

School Psychology Week California School Psychology Week is held in conjunction with the National Association of School Psychologist’s School Psychology Awareness Week. Usually held the second week in November, this year’s event is November 14 - 18, 2016.

What Do 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 are the campus mental health professionals.

School Psychologists 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: 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 Do Intervention • 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 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 may sign off on MediCal reimbursements. They are likely on your staff.

What School Psychologists Do As you can see, school psychologists do more than just testing and writing reports. They 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 Psychology Individuals who completed their program on or after July 1, 2004 must satisfy all the following: A baccalaureate degree or higher, except in professional education, from a regionally accredited college or university. 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.

School Psychologists: Advancing the social, emotional and academic wellbeing of all students