School Psychology Basics
Define school psychology.
School psychologists are uniquely qualified members of school teams that support students' ability to learn and teachers' ability to teach
What are the three elements of the tripartite framework for culturally responsive practice?
Awareness, Knowledge, Skill
What is the purpose of the NASP Practice Model?
The NASP Practice Model addresses the delivery of school psychological services in educational settings
What major societal change influenced the child study movement in the late 1800s in the U.S.?
Example:
The rise of schooling and centralized government systems on the East Coast
What academic challenge disproportionately affects Black students in the U.S.?
Lower proficiency scores in reading and math
What is one key difference between APA and NASP's definition of school psychology?
APA identifies school psychology as part of health service psychology, whereas NASP focuses on supporting student learning within educational settings
Give one example of how implicit biases might affect a school psychologist’s practice
Implicit biases may lead to misdiagnosing academic difficulties based on stereotypes or cultural misunderstandings
Compare Domain 3 and Domain 4 of the NASP Practice Model.
Domain 3 addresses academic interventions and supports, while Domain 4 focuses on mental and behavioral health services
Name one key event from the history of school psychology and its significance.
Example:
In 1905, the Binet-Simon scales were implemented for intelligence testing and individual classification
What are two major challenges faced by English learners in U.S. public schools?
Second language acquisition and acculturative stress
Name one service provided by school psychologists.
Examples:
Initial Evaluations for Special Education Services
Inservice Interventions
Re-evaluation for Special Education Services
Provide one example of a culturally responsive skill school psychologists should possess.
Examples:
multicultural awareness - acknowledge one’s own privilege and oppression
multicultural knowledge - interact with broad issues and the worldviews of students’ identities (social justice)
multicultural skills: interact with culturally diverse student populations within schools hours and outside (ie. football games, club meetings, etc.)
What does Domain 1 of the NASP Practice Model cover?
Domain 1 focuses on data-based decision making, where school psychologists use assessments to identify student needs
What are the two levels of credentialing for school psychologists practicing in schools?
Specialists Level:Preliminary School Psychologists Certificate (3 years, renewed once); Full School Psychologists Certificate (5 years, renewed with EC) - State Department of Education
Doctoral Level: State of Michigan Board of Psychology (LP) with the above certificates
How might a school psychologist’s own biases limit their effectiveness?
Biases can result in inaccurate assessments or inappropriate interventions based on cultural stereotypes
Compare and contrast school psychology with clinical psychology
Clinical psychology provides assessment and intervention services without a focus on schools and addresses psychological disorders. School psychology focuses on learning and education systems
What is one strategy for increasing cultural responsivity in school psychology?
Advocating for social justice within the school system
What is Domain 7 of the NASP Practice Model, and why is it important?
Domain 7 emphasizes family, school, and community collaboration to support student success
Name one advantage of having the NCSP credential
Examples:
Increased job mobility
Demonstrates high quality education
What is the ethical obligation of a school psychologist if they recognize their bias?
They must seek supervision, training, or resources to correct their bias and prevent harm to students