Extended time is among the most common testing accommodations given to students with a wide range of disabilities. However, although school psychologists are often involved in accommodation decisions, many are unaware of research from the past decade that has changed their understanding of extended time. Used properly, testing accommodations let…

The trend in school psychology services is a shift from an emphasis on an assessment-based paradigm to one of consultation problem-solving and behavioral intervention. A critical component of consultation-derived interventions and behavior change is "treatment integrity." Treatment integrity (or fidelity) refers to the extent to which an…

This manual, the first of a two-part study, describes an assessment and planning approach which school psychologists may employ in working with low incidence, severely handicapped students. Past assessment approaches are criticized for being nonfunctional and largely irrelevant; the proposed approach is directed to helping students achieve the…

The article reviews a variety of assessment instruments that psychologists can use to evaluate the visually handicapped child's residual vision; cognitive abilities; academic achievement; social, developmental, and language skills; and vocational potential. (Author)

The article summarizes current knowledge as it relates to three basic requirements for assessment (qualified personnel, adequate tools, and fair implementation) and identifies research and evaluation priorities for special education and school psychology. Priorities include defining minimum competency for assessment personnel and identifying…

Three major limiting factors are outlined: the lack of appropriate psychological tests, the dearth of properly trained psychologists, and the failure to obtain complete case histories. Several methods of overcoming these drawbacks are described. (Author/DLS)

This paper discusses strategies for the evaluation of severely handicapped students. The shortcomings of standardized assessment techniques are reviewed, and the appropriateness of normative comparison and the developmental model with this population is discussed. The role of the school psychologist in student assessment is described, and the need…

The manual is intended to help school psychologists determine strengths and weaknesses, establish goals, and prescribe interventions for students with difficulties in mathematics, spelling, and written language. Research on sources of mathematical difficulties, theoretical bases, and hierarchies in mathematics is reviewed, procedures for formal…

This paper presents a functional approach to the performance apppraisal of school psychologists, citing the high likelihood of increased public demand for accountability from human service professionals and a paucity of systematic efforts to appraise the performance of school psychologists as evidence of the importance of this topic. A functional…

This handbook explores the dynamics of crisis and the alternatives available to school psychologists in working with students, teachers, and parents. The materials contained in this manual are designed to help direct the school psychologist to other support services in the school and community. The role of the school psychologist in confronting…

This comprehensive, user-friendly guide meets a growing need for school psychologists and other practitioners called on to work with struggling readers and their teachers. Presented are a systematic framework and a wealth of step-by-step strategies for targeting key areas of literacy development: phonological awareness, fluency, and comprehension.…

With its roots in clinical and educational psychology, school psychology is an ever-changing field that encompasses a diversity of topics. "The Oxford Handbook of School Psychology" synthesizes the most vital and relevant literature in all of these areas, producing a state-of-the-art, authoritative resource for practitioners,…

This training module includes a trainer's manual and a participant's manual designed for school psychologists and concerned with the appraisal process for students with suspected handicapping conditions. The instructor's guide presents a script for covering seven major steps in the appraisal process (sample subtopics in parentheses): (1) pre…

This document discusses basic knowledge about the reading process, in order to help school psychologists make effective recommendations for educational programming. The paper begins by identifying and describing three models of the reading process, a traditional "bottom-up" model, a more emergent "top-down" view, and an interactive model which…

Federal and local mandates to expand the services of school psychologists downward to children ages 3 to 5 and interest in private practice and employment in institutions other than public schools have increased school psychologists' desires for broader role definitions. To meet the needs of the client group created by recent changes in the…