School psychologists are well served to stay up to date on trends in special education law, particularly with respect to determinations when school teams' decisions are challenged. This allows them to focus on proactive best practices that foster accurate specific learning disability (SLD) identification and active collaboration with parents. This…

Down syndrome is one of the leading causes of intellectual disability, and individuals with Down syndrome experience various health issues including learning and memory deficits, congenital heart diseases, Alzheimer's or other dementias, leukemia, cancers, and Hirschsprung disease. School psychologists have a vital role in the success of students…

In July 2022, the United States Department of Education Office for Civil Rights issued guidance on supporting students with disabilities and avoiding the discriminatory use of student discipline under Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973. The purpose of this guidance is to remind schools of their obligations under the law specific to…

While the field advocates for a diversified and comprehensive professional role (National Association of School Psychologists, 2020), school psychologists have long spent most of their time in assessment-related activities (Farmer et al., 2021), averaging about eight cognitive evaluations monthly (Benson et al., 2020). Assessment practices have…

In Part 1 of this series, the authors briefly reviewed some challenges inherent in using standardized tools with students who are not well represented in norming data. To help readers clearly conceptualize the framework steps, the authors present two case studies that showcase how a nonstandardized approach to assessment can be individualized to…

For this 23rd article in the series reviewing recent court decisions concerning appropriate school psychology practice from both professional and legal perspectives, the topic is the substantive standard for free appropriate public education (FAPE) under the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA), with a focus on the classification of…

For this 22nd article in the series reviewing recent court decisions concerning appropriate school psychology practice from both professional and legal perspectives, the topic is child find and eligibility under the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA), including as a secondary matter the intersecting requirement for a comprehensive…

This article highlights the trends in state laws and judicial rulings specific to identification of and interventions for students with dyslexia.

This fifth article of the Social Justice Committee's series on health disparities expands on previous articles (i.e., Tan et al., 2020; Ormiston et al., 2021) to discuss applications of advocacy by school psychologists to improve health parity for youth. As previously outlined in Proctor et al. (2020), health disparities are restricted…

Special educators who teach students with significant behavioral challenges may encounter frequent classroom crises. In these moments, they may feel overwhelmed, drained, or even reactive, as they navigate environments that may trigger a fight or flight response. Humble and compassionate approaches can lay the foundation for meaningful…

A compassionate care framework considers the neurodiverse needs of autistics and challenges the practitioner to think beyond their own comfort levels, preferences, and understanding of "correct" labels to consider how their language and actions support or create barriers for students. The foundational goals of compassionate care seek to…

One of the more salient roles of school psychologists is the school-based assessment of child and adolescent mental health problems. The most widely used diagnostic and classification system for mental health disorders in the United States is the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM). Many school psychologists (or their…

Noonan syndrome (NS) is a common genetic disorder that can cause a vast array of health conditions. Characteristics of NS include specific facial features as well as a higher chance of developing congenital heart disease, failure to thrive, and vision abnormalities. These deficits may manifest as behavioral and emotional difficulties, leaving…

Angelman syndrome (AS) is a rare neurogenetic disorder that is characterized by myriad genetic, physical, and behavioral abnormalities (Buiting et al., 2016; Thibert et al., 2013; Wheeler et al., 2017). Due to complex developmental delays and intellectual disability associated with AS, including gross/fine motor delays, lack of speech, and…

The COVID-19 pandemic has complicated the identification and delivery of special education services for students across the United States. Many students, regardless of previous disability status, are demonstrating increased academic, social-emotional, and medical needs in school in response to instructional disruptions and other impacts of the…