The National Association of School Psychologists (NASP) emphasizes the role of school psychologists across a variety of domains, including engaging with families across multiple tiers of support (NASP, 2010a). However, the national school psychology shortage, leading school psychologists to work across various schools, may play a large role in the…

Clinical supervision is an essential feature of high-quality psychological practice. However, it has been under-investigated within the field of school psychology and particularly in Australia. An overview of the field of school psychology, its clinical supervision, and its use by school psychologists is provided. Past literature has suggested…

The current study investigated Georgia school psychologists' continuing professional development (CPD) practices and preferences for comparison to a national study of school psychology professional development by Armistead, Castillo, Curtis, Chappel, and Cunningham (2013). Utilizing the same instrument as Armistead et al., a survey was emailed to…

Clinical diagnosis is not a typical school psychologist activity. However, changes to the "Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders" (DSM), the framework for diagnosis put forth by the American Psychiatric Association (APA), are important to consider. First published in 1952, major revisions are being proposed for this new edition…

This article describes the results of a national survey pertaining to school psychologists' knowledge and use of evidence-based, social-emotional learning (SEL) interventions. For the study, 331 school psychologists responded to a survey that listed (a) techniques for identifying SEL interventions, (b) 16 SEL programs that have been identified by…

Chronic pain is persistent and recurrent pain that tends to fluctuate in severity, quality, regularity, and predictability. It can occur in a single or multiple body regions or organ systems. Some of the most frequently reported types of chronic pain include headaches, recurrent abdominal pain (RAP), and musculoskeletal pain. In contrast to acute…

In the February 2008 issue of "Communique", Miller, DeOrnellas, and Maricle raised the question: Is it time for National Association of School Psychologists (NASP) to recognize subspecialties? Based on the literature and emerging trends in the field, Miller and others argued for the need to recognize subspecialization; however, empirical data to…

Randi Brown came to school psychology almost as a family business. Her grandmother was a school psychologist and the first licensed psychologist in the state of New York. Randi graduated with a doctoral degree from Yeshiva University and has served students in Westchester County, New York, for 18 years. She exemplifies the dedication typical of so…

Current issues relevant to school psychology internships are reviewed. The movement toward professional competencies and behavioral benchmarks as they relate to school psychology internships is discussed, with a concentration on American Psychological Association and National Association of School Psychologists standards. Given the emphasis on…

Articles published between 2000 and 2008 in four major school psychology journals--"School Psychology Review," "Journal of School Psychology," "Psychology in the Schools," and "School Psychology Quarterly"--were classified based on type (empirical or narrative) and on the primary and secondary authors' affiliations. Results showed that more than…

The purpose of this study was to develop an interview instrument for school systems to use in the hiring process for school psychologists. The current professional standards, guidelines for practice, and existing literature were reviewed, which yielded consistent agreement of 10 interrelated domains that address essential skills and knowledge…

Granting awards to recognize outstanding service and leadership is among the more important functions of professional associations. The School Psychologist of the Year Award (SPYA) is one of several national-level recognitions. Although NASP's annual SPYA dates only to 1991, several state associations were already granting such distinctions. Their…

The economic downturn is hitting schools hard, and in many places, school psychologists are seeing positions cut, services limited, and roles redefined. At the same time, the need for prevention and intervention services is skyrocketing as children, families, and staff suffer the effects of lost incomes, homes, and stability. Forces that may seem…

The American Recovery and Reinvestment Act (ARRA), also known as the "Stimulus Act" and "Economic Recovery Act," was signed into law by President Obama on February 17, 2009. As a response to the economic downturn that Americans are all experiencing, the ARRA is an effort to jumpstart the economy, create or save millions of jobs, and make long-term…

School psychologists in this country are fed up. The authors are both fortunate enough to consult with school districts all over the country about implementing response to intervention (RTI), and they consistently hear frustration resulting from using the "wait to fail" discrepancy model for learning disability identification. Many school…