What Do School Psychologists Do?
School psychologists provide direct support and interventions to students, consult with teachers, families, and other school-employed mental health professionals (i.e., school counselors, school social workers) to improve support strategies, work with school administrators to improve school-wide practices and policies, and collaborate with community providers to coordinate needed services. They help schools successfully:
Improve Academic Achievement
-
Promote student motivation and engagement
-
Conduct psychological and academic assessments
-
Individualize instruction and interventions
-
Manage student and classroom behavior
-
Monitor student progress
-
Collect and interpret student and classroom data
-
Reduce inappropriate referrals to special education.
Promote Positive Behavior and Mental Health
-
Improve students communication and social skills
-
Assess student emotional and behavioral needs
-
Provide individual and group counseling
-
Promote problem solving, anger management and conflict resolution
-
Reinforce positive coping skills and resilience
-
Promote positive peer relationships and social problem solving
-
Make referrals to and help coordinate community services provided in schools
Support Diverse Learners
-
Assess diverse learning needs
-
Provide culturally responsive services to students and families from diverse backgrounds
-
Plan appropriate Individualized Education Programs for students with disabilities
-
Modify and adapt curricula and instruction
-
Adjust classroom facilities and routines to improve student engagement and learning
-
Monitor and effectively communicate with parents about student progress
Create Safe, Positive School Climates
-
Prevent bullying and other forms of violence
-
Support social-emotional learning
-
Assess school climate and improve school connectedness
-
Implement and promote positive discipline and restorative justice
-
Implement school-wide positive behavioral supports
-
Identify at risk students and school vulnerabilities
-
Provide crisis prevention and intervention services
Strengthen Family-School Partnerships
-
Help families understand their child's learning and mental health needs
-
Assist in navigating special education processes
-
Connect families with community service providers when necessary
-
Help effectively engage families with teachers and other school staff
-
Enhance staff understanding and responsiveness to diverse cultures and backgrounds
-
Help students transition between school and community learning environments, such as residential treatment or juvenile justice programs
Improve School-Wide Assessment and Accountability Monitor individual student progress in academics and behavior
-
Generate and interpret useful student and school outcome data
-
Collect and analyze data on risk and protective factors related to student outcomes
-
Plan services at the district, building, classroom, and individual levels
Why Do Children Need School Psychologists?
All children and youth can face problems from time to time related to learning; social relationships; making difficult decisions; or managing emotions such as feeling depressed, anxious, worried, or isolated. School psychologists help students, families, educators, and members of the community understand and resolve both long-term, chronic problems and short-term issues that students may face. They are a highly skilled and ready resource in the effort to ensure that all children and youth thrive in school, at home, and in life.