School Psychologist

What is a School Psychologist?

School Psychologists provide a variety of services, including individual student assessments of learning needs, student centered consultation for staff and parents, assisting students with various daily conflict resolution, and crisis intervention services for students and families.  The School Psychologist also addresses the specific needs related to special education students and the Committee on Special Education.

In addition, most school psychologists provide the following services:

Consultation

Collaborate with teachers, parents, and administrators to find effective solutions to learning and behavior problems.

Help others understand child development and how it affects learning and behavior.

Strengthen working relationships between teachers, parents, and service providers in the community.

Evaluation

Evaluate eligibility for special services.

Assess academic skills and aptitude for learning.

Determine social-emotional development and mental health status.

Evaluate learning environments.

Intervention

Provide psychological counseling to help resolve interpersonal or family problems that interfere with school performance.

Work directly with children and their families to help resolve problems in adjustment and learning.

Provide training in social skills and anger management.

Help families and schools manage crises such as death, illness, or community trauma.

Prevention

Design programs for children at risk of failing at school.

Promote tolerance, understanding, and appreciation of diversity within the school community.

Develop programs to make schools safer and more effective learning environments.

Collaborate with school staff and community agencies to provide services directed at improving psychological and physical health.

Develop partnerships with parents and teachers to promote healthy school environments.

Research and Planning

Evaluate the effectiveness of academic and behavior management programs.

Identify and implement programs and strategies to improve schools.

Use evidence-based research to develop and/or recommend effective interventions.

Resource:  The National Association of School Psychologists; developed by Arlene Silva, University of Maryland school psychology graduate student intern at the NASP office (summer 2003), with contributions from NASP staff and leadership.