School psychology

School psychology

School Psychology is a field that applies principles of clinical psychology and educational psychology to the diagnosis and treatment of children's and adolescents' behavioral and learning problems. School psychologists are educated in psychology, child and adolescent development, child and adolescent psychopathology, education, family and parenting practices, learning theories, and personality theories. They are knowledgeable about effective instruction and effective schools. They are trained to carry out psychological and psychoeducational assessment, psychotherapy, and consultation, and in the ethical, legal and administrative codes of their profession.

Historical highlights

Lightner Witmer, often called the 'father of school psychology' Fagan, 1996, opened the first psychology clinic in the U.S. in 1896 at the University of Pennsylvania. Witmer's clinic provided services that combined educational and clinical interventions. Clinic staff treated children with psychoeducational difficulties by working directly with the children at the clinic, and also by consulting with educators at local school Fagan. The first person to hold the title 'school psychologist', however, was (Arnold Gesell Fagan, 2000).

The profession of school psychology in the U.S. grew tremendously following the passing of laws mandating compulsory schooling for children in the early 20th century. These laws led to a spurt in the number of children with physical and mental problems in schools who previously would have not attended school, and educators struggled to serve them. At that time, students who were very atypical were usually educated in separate facilities, and the need arose for experts to assist in this educational segregation. At around the same time, advances were made in educational measurement and test construction, leading to the development of standardized tests such as the Simon-Binet IQ test in France. Binet's test was brought to the United States in the early 1900s and was standardized in 1916 by [Lewis Terman] of Stanford University; today it is the [Stanford-Binet] Intelligence Scales (5th ed.). The primary role of school psychologists at that time was administering and interpreting standardized tests. Consulting with teachers and parents about children's learning, emotional, and behavioral difficulties and designing treatments were minor parts of their professional role (Merrell, 2006).

Prior to World War II, the practice of psychology was not formally divided into clinical, counseling, school, and other divisions, as it is today. However, the large number of soldiers returning home from the war led to the appearance of [Veterans Administration] hospitals to serve them, and to the growth and eventual medicalization of [clinical psychology] through its interactions with psychiatry. School psychology, however, retained its emphasis on psychoeducational issues (Merrell, 2006] . Division 16 (School Psychology) of the [American Psychological Association] was formed in 1945, and it represents the speciality of school psychology as a doctoral-level field within health service psychology. The majority of school psychologists, however, particularly those employed in schools, possess master's degrees or education specialist degrees. The [National Association of School Psychologists] was founded in 1969. It represents all school psychologists and is the largest and most influential professional school psychology organization. There are also 52 state school psychology organizations.

In 1975, the landmark federal [Education of All Handicapped Children Act] (EHA) required that states provide free and appropriate public education of all individuals from 3 to 21 years of age. This act required that all children attend school, including children who previously might not have received public education due to their physical, emotional, or intellectual disabilities. Moreover, this act mandated that children should be educated in the least restricted environment appropriate for them (that is, in the regular education classroom, together with their typically-developing peers). These principles were reaffirmed and strengthened in the [Individuals with Disabilities Education Act] (IDEA), and [Individuals with Disabilities Education Act|Individuals with Disabilities Education Improvement Act] . Hence, in the U.S. the profession of school psychology flourished as these students needed additional support to be successful in the regular school setting (Merrell, 2006).

Education

Unlike clinical psychology and counseling psychology, which are doctoral-only fields, school psychology includes individuals with Master's (M.A., M.S., M.Ed.), Educational Specialist (Ed.S.), and doctoral (Ph.D., Psy.D. or Ed.D) degrees. Whereas in the past the Master's degree was considered appropriate for practice in schools, the National Association of School Psychologists currently recognizes the 60 credit hour Ed.S. as the most appropriate level of training needed for entry-level school-based practice. According to the NASP Research Committee (NASP Research Committee, 2007), in 2004-05, 33% of school psychologists possessed Master's degrees, 35% the Educational Specialist (Ed.S.) degree, and 32% doctoral (Ph.D., Psy.D., or Ed.D.) degrees.

Most school psychology training programs are housed in university schools of education. School psychology programs require courses, practica, and internships that cover the domains of (1) data-based decision-making and accountability; (2) consultation and collaboration; (3) effective instruction and development of cognitive/academic skills; (4) socialization and development of life skills; (5) student diversity in development and learning; (6) school and systems organization, policy development, and climate;(7) prevention, crisis intervention, and mental health; (8) home/school/community collaboration; (9) research and program evaluation; (10) school psychology practice and development; and (11) information technology Standards for Training and Field Placement, 2007. Specialist-level training typically requires 3-4 years of graduate training including a 9-month (1200 hour) internship in a school setting. Doctoral-level training programs typically require 5-7 years of graduate training including a 12-month internship (1500+ hours), which may be in a school or other (e.g., medical) setting. Doctoral level training differs from [specialist degree|specialist] -level training in that it requires students to take more coursework in core psychology and professional psychology. In addition, doctoral programs typically require students to learn more advanced statistics, to be involved in research endeavors, and to complete a doctoral dissertation constituting original research APA Committee on Accreditation, 2008;

Doctoral training programs may be approved by NASP and/or accredited by the American Psychological Association. In 2007, approximately 125 programs were approved by NASP, and 58 programs were accredited by APA. Another 11 APA-accredited programs were combined clinical/counseling/school, clinical/school, or counseling/school programs American Psychological Association, 2007. A list of school psychology graduate programs at all levels across the U.S. can be found at the University of California Berkeley's website.

Certification and licensure in the United States

School psychologists are eligible for certification by their respective states' departments of education to practice psychology in schools. NASP also offers an optional national credential, the National Certificate in School Psychology (NCSP) for school psychologists with specialist or doctoral-level degrees who have passed the Praxis-II Exam, a standardized test administered several times each year by the Educational Testing Service. The NCSP credential facilitates professional mobility from one state to another.

School psychologists with doctoral degrees are also eligible for licensure as health service psychologists by their states' psychology licensing boards, in which case they may practice in a wide variety of settings (e.g., as pediatric psychologists)Merrell, 2006. Additionally, they may pursue board certification through the American Board of Professional Psychology.

School psychology services

School psychologists are experts in both psychology and education. School psychologists address the educational, emotional, social, and behavioral challenges that many children, youth, and young adults experience. They apply their understanding of human development, psychopathology, the impact of culture, learning theory, the principles of effective instruction and effective schools, and the impact of parent and family functioning on children to serve learners and their families. As noted by the National Association of School Psychologists and the American Psychological Association , school psychologists adhere to the scientist-practitioner framework and make decisions based on empirical research.

Although school psychologists understand that schools are important in the lives of young people, not all school psychologists are employed in schools. Many school psychologists, particularly those with doctoral degrees, practice in other settings, including clinics, hospitals, forensic settings, correctional facilities, universities, and independent practice.

In many states school psychologists with terminal Master's or Education Specialist degrees are limited to employment in school settings. School psychologists employed in schools conduct psychological and educational assessments, provide interventions, and develop and present prevention programs for individuals from birth to age 21. They consult with teachers, other school personnel, physicians, and other professionals about students and are actively involved in district and school crisis intervention teams. They also may provide professional development to teachers and other school personnel on topics such as positive behavior intervention plans and carry out individual, group, and family counseling.

Employment prospects in school psychology

The job prospects in school psychology in the U.S. are excellent. The U.S. Department of Labor cites employment opportunities in school psychology at both the specialist and doctoral levels as among the best across all fields of psychology (U.S. Dept. of Labor, 2006-07).

According to the NASP Research Committee (2007), 74% of school psychologists are female with an average age of 46. In 2004-05, average earnings for school practitioners ranged from $56,262 for those with a 180-day annual contract to $68,764 for school psychologists with a 220-day contract.

Journals and other publications related to school psychology

[http://jpa.sagepub.com/ Journal of Psychoeducational Assessment]

[http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/journal/00224405 Journal of School Psychology]

[http://www.nasponline.org/publications/cq/cqmain.aspx NASP Communiqué]

[http://www3.interscience.wiley.com/cgi-bin/jhome/32084 Psychology in the Schools]

[http://www.nasponline.org/publications/spf/index.aspx School Psychology Forum: Research in Practice]

[http://spi.sagepub.com/ School Psychology International]

[http://www.indiana.edu/~div16/quarterly.htm School Psychology Quarterly]

[http://www.nasponline.org/publications/spr/sprmain.aspx School Psychology Review]

[http://www.indiana.edu/~div16/psychologist.htm The School Psychologist]

References

*American Board of Professional Psychology (n.d.). Specialty certification in school psychology. Brochure retrieved on January 31, 2008 from http://www.abpp.org/.

*American Psychological Association (2007). Accredited internship and postdoctoral programs for training in psychology: 2007. American Psychologist, Vol 62(9), Dec 2007. pp. 1016-1040.

*American Psychological Association Commission for the Recognition of Specialties and Proficiencies in Professional Psychology (n.d.). Archival description of school psychology. Retrieved on December 29, 2007 from http://www.apa.org/crsppp/schpsych.html.

*Committee on Accreditation (January 1, 2008). Guidelines and principles for accreditation of programs in professional psychology. Washington D.C.: APA. Retrieved on June 6, 2007 from, http://www.apa.org/ed/accreditation/coalist.html.

*Fagan, T. K. (1996). Witmer's contributions to school psychological services. American Psychologist, 51.

*Fagan, T. K. & Wise, P. S. (2000). School Psychology: Past, present, and future, (2nd ed.). Bethesda, MD: National Association of School Psychologists.
*Merrell, K. W., Ervin, R. A., & Gimpel, G. A. (2006). School psychology for the 21st century. NY: Guilford.

*National Association of School Psychologists (July 15, 2000). Standards for Training and Field Placement Programs in School Psychology / Standards for the Credentialing of School Psychologists. http://www.nasponline.org/standards/index.aspx.

*National Association of School Psychologists (2007). A Career in School Psychology: Selecting a Master’s, Specialist, or Doctoral Degree Program That Meets Your Needs. Bethesda, MD: NASP. Retrieved on June 4, 2007 from http://www.nasponline.org/students/degreefactsheet.pdf.

*National Association of School Psychologists Research Committee (2007). Demographics of the profession of school psychology. Retrieved on December 29, 2007 from http://education.ucsb.edu/netshare/cdspp/midwinter.html.

*United States Department of Labor Occupational Outlook Handbook (OOH), 2006-2007 Edition. http://www.bls.gov/oco/ocos056.htm.

ee also

*Educational Psychology
*School Counselor
*School Social Worker
*School Psychological Examiner
*Special Education

External links

* [http://www.apa.org American Psychological Association]
** [http://www.apa.org/about/division/div16.html Division 16-School Psychology]
** [http://www.apa.org/science/standards.html The Standards for Educational and Psychological Testing]
* [http://www.ispaweb.org International School Psychology Association]
* [http://www.nasponline.org National Association of School Psychologists]
* [http://www.school-psychologist.com/schpsy.html School-Psychologist.com]
* [http://www.schoolpsychology.net/ School Psychology Resources]


Wikimedia Foundation. 2010.

Игры ⚽ Нужно сделать НИР?

Look at other dictionaries:

  • school psychology — Branch of applied psychology that deals largely with educational assessment, psychological testing, and student consultation in elementary and secondary schools. School psychologists train in educational and developmental psychology as well as in …   Universalium

  • PSYCHOLOGY — PSYCHOLOGY, the science of the mind or of mental phenomena and activities. Psychological Concepts in the Bible Psychology has a long past, but only a short history (H. Ebbinghaus, Abriss der Psychologie, 1908). Nowhere is this aphorism better… …   Encyclopedia of Judaism

  • Psychology — (from Greek gr. ψῡχή, psȳkhē , breath, life, soul ; and gr. λογία, logia ) is an academic and applied discipline involving the scientific study of mental processes and behavior. Psychologists study such phenomena as perception, cognition, emotion …   Wikipedia

  • psychology — /suy kol euh jee/, n., pl. psychologies. 1. the science of the mind or of mental states and processes. 2. the science of human and animal behavior. 3. the sum or characteristics of the mental states and processes of a person or class of persons,… …   Universalium

  • School counselor — A school counselor is a counselor and educator who works in schools, and have historically been referred to as guidance counselors or educational counselors , although Professional School Counselor is now the preferred term. [American School… …   Wikipedia

  • school — school1 schoolable, adj. schoolless, adj. schoollike, adj. /skoohl/, n. 1. an institution where instruction is given, esp. to persons under college age: The children are at school. 2. an institution for instruction in a particular skill or field …   Universalium

  • Psychology — • The science which treats of the soul and its operations Catholic Encyclopedia. Kevin Knight. 2006. Psychology     Psychology     † …   Catholic encyclopedia

  • School of the Art Institute of Chicago — Location 37 South Wabash Avenue, Chicago, Illinois 60603 Information Type private, non profit corporation Established 1866 …   Wikipedia

  • Psychology of Interest —     Psychology of Interest     † Catholic Encyclopedia ► Psychology of Interest     (Lat. interest; Fr. intérêt; Germ. interesse). The mental state called interest has received much attention in recent psychological literature. This is largely… …   Catholic encyclopedia

  • Psychology of religion — is the psychological study of religious experiences, beliefs, and activities.History William James U.S. psychologist and philosopher William James (1842 1910) is regarded by most psychologists of religion as the founder of the field. He served as …   Wikipedia

Share the article and excerpts

Direct link
Do a right-click on the link above
and select “Copy Link”