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- Who Are School Psychologists?
- What School Psychologists Do?
- Where School Psychologists Work?
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Who Are School Psychologists?
School psychologists help children and youth succeed academically, socially,
and emotionally. They collaborate with educators, parents, and other
professionals to create safe, healthy, and supportive learning environments
for all students that strengthen connections between home and school.
School psychologists are highly trained in both psychology and education.
They must complete a minimum of a post-Master’s degree program that includes
a year-long internship and emphasizes preparation in mental health, child
development, school organization, learning styles and processes, behavior,
motivation, and effective teaching.
School psychologists must be certified and/or licensed by the state in which
they work. They also may be nationally certified by the National School
Psychology Certification Board (NSPCB).
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What School Psychologists Do?
School psychologists work to find the best solution for each student and
situation and use different strategies to address student needs and to
improve school and district-wide support systems.
School psychologists work with students individually and in groups. They
also develop programs to train teachers and parents regarding effective
teaching and learning strategies, effective techniques to manage behavior at
home and in the classroom, working with students with disabilities or with
special talents, abuse of drugs and other substances, and preventing and
managing crises.
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.
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Where School Psychologists Work?
The majority of school psychologists work in schools. However, they can
practice in a variety of settings including:
Public and private school systems
School-based health centers
Clinics and hospitals
Private practice
Universities
Community and state agencies, and other institutions
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