Evidence-based practice (EBP), and the use of practice-based evidence (PBE) are in a complementary relationship. The value of using PBE is that the evidence gathered through clinical practice can be applicable to the appropriate population. PBE provides information about the clinical usefulness of a specific technique. When data are collected from…

The terms equity, inclusion, diversity, and belonging, often present an assumption that the dialogue will center around school climate, culture, and psychological safety. While these are critical components of equitable practices, the educational process of providing sound academic instruction and assessment cannot be lost in the conversation.…

This article is the second of a series of articles appearing in "Communiqué" about how school psychologists can adopt and promote the evidence-based practices in math assessment and instruction. The focus of this article is on measuring math skills for screening, diagnostic decisions, and progress monitoring. [For the first article in…

Evidence-based practices (EBP) in psychology and education are necessary for the development of best practices and required by law. However, EBP is a term that is often freely applied in these settings without considering the implications of the meaning of "evidence-based." Evidence-based practices are defined as the process of…

Research suggests that children begin to internalize moral rules during the adolescent years when self-reflection and the desire to integrate and prioritize different core values is strongest (Blasi, 1983). Until then, they rely mostly on extrinsic forms of motivation in which they adopt the norms and rules of society, which they obey to avoid…

Early childhood, defined as infancy through age 5 years, is a critical period and serves as the foundation for development throughout the life span. According to the U.S. Census Bureau, in July 2015, there were almost 20 million children ages birth to 5 years. The physical health of infants and young children is addressed and monitored through…

School psychology training programs take great pride in claiming to prepare scientist-practitioners consistent with the tradition of the Boulder model. Science as a basis for practice is also endorsed by government initiatives, such as in the case of Individuals with Disabilities Education Act of 2004 and No Child Left Behind Act of 2001, in which…

Evidence-based interventions (EBIs) have proved to be an exciting, yet frustrating aspect of school psychology practice. The argument for EBIs is that educational and psychological interventions strongly supported by a consensus of peer reviewed experimental and quasi-experimental studies will result in the best possible outcomes for students.…

The much anticipated fifth edition of the American Psychiatric Association's (APA, 2013) "Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders" (DSM-5) was released this past May at APA's annual convention in San Francisco and with it came a storm of controversy. In this article, the authors examine changes made to specific diagnostic…

The sheer amount of time that school psychologists spend conducting assessments, coupled with the shift in the field toward incorporating a socially just lens into practice, elicits the question: What constitutes socially just academic assessments, and what are the related best practices? Considering the complexities related to applying a social…

This article describes Getting to Outcomes (GTO), a 10-step framework for accountability designed to facilitate effective implementation of evidence-based programs and improvement of home-grown practices (Getting to Outcomes and GTO are trademarks registered by the University of South Carolina and RAND; Wandersman, Imm, Chinman, & Kaftarian,…

Learning how to manage emotions such as frustration and disappointment is an important task of childhood. Although it is common for very young children to have temper tantrums when they cannot get their way, these reactions tend to decrease in frequency and intensity for most children as they develop skills to help them respond in more adaptive…

This article presents the author's talk, entitled "Engaging with Parents," which was delivered as the National Association of School Psychologists (NASP) Distinguished Lecture at the NASP 2010 Annual Convention on March 4, 2010 in Chicago, Illinois. At the time of this talk, the author believes education and psychology are involved in three…