The National Association of School Psychologists (NASP) Social Justice Committee's annual theme is "Supporting SOGD Youth: Sexual Orientation and Gender Diversity." This is the first article in a two-part series reviewing key terminology and ways to support and advocate for youth with SOGD identities, with a focus on sexual and…

If students at your school are not attending classes or coming to school at all, they may be engaging in school refusal. Understanding what school refusal is, as well as the functions behind it, is key to evaluation and a collaborative school-home approach to intervention.

Achievement Goal Theory (AGT) is one of the most popular theoretical frameworks in motivation research. Despite its application to a variety of contexts, including, school, work, and sport, it has not yet been referenced in the field of school psychology. First, we review the theoretical underpinnings as told through the theory's evolving models,…

This article presents a structured blueprint for school psychologists to assess and intervene in cases of automatically maintained self-injurious behavior (SIB) while adhering to the Least Restrictive Environment (LRE) mandate. We outline a six-step process for conducting Functional Behavior Assessments (FBAs) of automatically maintained SIB,…

The central school district obligation for disciplinary changes in placement under the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA) is to answer the question of whether the conduct at issue is a manifestation of the individual student's disability. School psychologists often play a key role in this team-based manifestation determination…

School neuropsychology focuses on brain--behavior relationships and how these connections influence the learning process. This specialized field considers the individual and sociocultural factors that influence cognitive development, using targeted neuropsychological assessments to guide effective intervention. While grounded in pediatric clinical…

Phenylketonuria (PKU) is a rare, but serious, metabolic disease that can cause a variety of neurological, psychological, and academic complications. Fortunately, many individuals with PKU who are identified and treated early can go on to live a relatively normal life. However, PKU does continue to present with a variety of complex underlying…

This chapter will introduce readers to the history and current relevance of classroom discipline practices in U.S. public schools, the impact of inequitable practices on student outcomes, and the need for and implementation of equitable and culturally responsive classroom behavioral strategies. Using the three-pronged framework of equity and…

Each year, the NASP Assistance to States (ATS) committee hosts regional leadership meetings (RLM) as part of the annual convention. In November 2021, state leaders across the country joined forces to learn about the process of implementation science and how to facilitate sustainable change. At the core, implementation science examines critical…

School psychologists have long been regarded for their expertise in the assessment, evaluation, and delivery of mental and behavioral health services for children in schools. Given the growing attention to school safety, crisis prevention, and crisis intervention, school psychologists are also increasingly called upon to assist with systems-level…

Treacher Collins syndrome (TCS) is a rare genetic disorder that affects the development of bones and tissues of the face and is characterized by deformities of the ears, eyes, cheekbones, and chin. The signs and symptoms of TCS vary greatly, ranging from unnoticeable to very severe manifestations and malformations. This article provides a history…

The purpose of this article is to describe an innovative training model for preservice doctoral-level school psychologists; a model focused on the development of organizational consultation skills and grounded in collaborative university-school partnerships. We describe how faculty have shaped the graduate training experiences for preservice…

The suicide of a student has a rippling effect in the school environment as well as in the greater community, as a single adolescent death by suicide increases the risk of additional suicides. The process by which a completed suicide (or at times, suicidal behavior) increases the suicidal behavior of others is called contagion. When multiple…

Leukemia is the most common type of cancer in children and adolescents under the age of 19 (Mullin, 2018); but, due to scientific research and treatment advancements, there is an approximately 80% chance of survival from leukemia (Castillo, 2008). Most children receive a diagnosis of leukemia between the ages of 2 and 7 years old. The peak age of…

School psychologists play a critical role in school-based Autism (AU) evaluations. Evidence-based AU evaluations should be multimodal, include multiple informants, and assess functioning across several domains. In the current era of COVID-19, school-based AU evaluations have become increasingly complex with school psychologists having to…