Assessment is fundamental to school psychology, but its purpose has shifted from making predictions about children to improving outcomes for children. This commentary on the special issue focuses on screening and progress-monitoring decisions that can be used to solve student problems. We outline several psychometric and practical issues that…

School-based consultation typically focuses on individual student problems and on a small number of students rather than on changing the classroom system. The Classroom Check-Up was developed as a classwide consultation model to address the need for classroom-level support while minimizing treatment integrity problems common to school-based…

Employed naturalistic methods to investigate general education teachers' (n=26) willingness to reintegrate into their classrooms students with learning disabilities and whether student behavioral and academic data impact those attitudes. Found that teachers were initially unenthusiastic or neutral about reintegrating students into their classroom;…

Used multiple baseline design to evaluate teacher-only and conjoint parent-teacher behavioral consultation in their ability to produce cross-setting behavioral change in social initiations of four withdrawn children. Found that conjoint consultation was effective in enhancing social initiation behaviors across home and school settings, whereas…

Provides overview of existing literature on psychoeducational adjustment of immigrant children from English-speaking countries in Caribbean and Central America. Addresses issues of education, language differences, sociocultural adjustment, and in the case of Central American immigrant children, Posttraumatic Stress Disorder. Discusses role of…

Explored whether classroom teachers' (n=40) perceptions of difficult-to-teach (DTT) students are racially biased. Subjects each nominated DTT student most likely to be referred for psychological evaluation and placement in special education. One-half DTT students were white, one-half were black. Results indicated black teachers and white teachers…

Reviews some essential aspects of school safety planning. Discusses general evaluation objectives and assessment procedures, as well as a safe school planning process. Offers specific guidelines for handling violent incidents at school. Presents 25 preventive security measures that will help to lessen chances of violence occurring on campus.…

A conceptual framework is presented as a guide to defining starting points for primary prevention of behavioral and emotional disorders. Selected approaches reflecting these concepts are reviewed, and implementation considerations within the school setting are discussed. (SLD)

Used multiple baseline across items design to evaluate effects of cover, copy, and compare (CCC) intervention on students' accuracy identifying states on map of United States. Results from seven students taught with CCC intervention showed the CCC intervention was effective in increasing class mean accuracy levels in locating states. Students…

Notes that bullying affects 15-20% of all students in schools today. Discusses characteristics of bullies and their victims, school and family factors that affect development of bully/victim experience, and the school system responses to bullying. Provides components of comprehensive intervention plan for bullying. (Author/NB)

Examines role of school psychologist in managing services for children with attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) in relation to legal mandates and recent trends in ADHD research and the practice of school psychology. Considers limitations of school-based model; emphasizes need for close collaboration between school- and clinic-based…

Makes linkage between violent incidents and more general school safety. Contends that, when school violence concerns are reframed to develop resiliency in youth to help them cope with stresses of violence, school psychologists will have much to offer. (Author/NB)

Describes basic principles and key components of model for writing instruction designed to meet needs of students with learning disabilities. Notes goals of curriculum are to develop writers who possess basic writing skills; range of cognitive and metacognitive strategies for planning, writing, and revising; and ability and motivation to use…

Introduces conceptual framework for developing positive, nonaversive, behavioral support plans for students with severe disabilities. Notes that framework is comprised of multiple components (alternative skill training, antecedent interventions, lifestyle planning) and offers comprehensive, proactive approach to reduction and prevention of…

Classwide peer tutoring procedures involve instructional procedures (provision of frequent, immediate feedback) that are successful for children with Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD). Implemented peer tutoring for one second-grade ADHD student. Results indicated significant improvements in attention to instruction, task-irrelevant…