This next article in the series on evaluation under the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA) focuses on the common, core responsibility of school psychologists for timely completion of the initial evaluation. For this topic, first is a legal analysis and then a discussion for professional implementation that includes ethical…

Over the last few decades, several definitions of dyslexia have centered on phonological awareness as the sole linguistic risk factor for developing dyslexia. Although difficulties with the acquisition and application of speech sounds can affect reading and spelling development, additional factors can as well and are included in other…

School psychologists can play an important advocacy role in ensuring the latest evidence-based practices for students presenting with symptoms of attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) are being implemented in their districts. ADHD is a highly stigmatized disorder due to a number of misconceptions (e.g., the prevalence of ADHD has…

Identity development is a critical process common to the human experience across all demographics. While everyone engages in identity development, the range of nuances in identity that need to be navigated makes the process more complicated. As children progress through adolescence, developing their unique identity becomes a vital task in which…

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…

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…

Safe, stable, nurturing relationships between students and school personnel are essential for students' psychosocial development. All students should have access to these relationships, regardless of their background, race, gender, or disability status. Over the past several years, young people have experienced an extraordinary amount of social…

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…

Although Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) affects approximately 5% of children, the disorder is more frequently seen in males than in females, with a male-to-female ratio of approximately 2:1 in children (APA 2013). This discrepancy in prevalence is suggested to lie in the differences in ADHD symptomatology between girls and boys.…

The purpose of this article is to discuss sources of confusion for school district personnel that have resulted in overidentification (i.e., false positives) and underidentification (i.e., false negatives) of 504-only students. The organizing framework for these sources of confusion is the applicable three-pronged legal definition for eligibility…

For this 18th article in the series reviewing recent court decisions concerning appropriate school psychology practice from both professional and legal perspectives, the topic is the IDEA's obligation of providing a comprehensive initial evaluation. More specifically, the focus here is determining eligibility for a gifted child with emotional and…

Given that most schools already conduct reading screening multiple times per year, often using multiple measures, it makes sense to revisit why all this screening may not be giving schools the desired return on investment that they are after. The purpose of this article is to equip school psychologists with an understanding of four common dyslexia…

When a child's parents request a special education evaluation, the school generally must promptly evaluate the student. However, many schools implement response to intervention (RTI) to provide students with regular education interventions prior to evaluating the student for special education eligibility. School psychologists may find themselves…

In the area of early childhood gifted education and effective interventions for young children identified as intellectually gifted, there appears to be a persistent lack of research. There is also very little research on the characteristics and social-emotional development of young gifted children, particularly those of preschool age. The small…

At the request of President Trump in the aftermath of the Parkland shooting, a Federal Commission on School Safety was assembled to provide meaningful and actionable recommendations to maintain student safety in schools. This article summarizes the overarching points of the Commission's report and shares concerns raised the National Association of…