With support from a U.S. Department of Education grant, the Portland Public Schools successfully expanded a model program that addresses workforce shortages and disrupts inequities by increasing the number of school psychologists from diverse backgrounds, improving foundational reading skills, increasing multitiered systems of support, 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.

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…

Globally, approximately 400,000 youth are diagnosed with pediatric cancer each year. Treatment-related side effects, psychosocial challenges, and frequent school absences may adversely impact learning and the education experience among these youth. Efforts to enhance interagency collaboration between health care settings and community schools are…

Students have dreams and goals outside of school. School psychologists can play a vital role in helping students with disabilities reach their dreams, particularly when the dreams ask the question "What do I want to do after high school?" Often, the answer lies in postsecondary goals, which require transition planning while the student…

Background: Specialists working in school settings provide crucial psychological and pedagogical support to students, teachers and other members of the school community. As the roles played by psychologists, educators, speech therapists and other specialists vary internationally, more needs to be understood about their lived experiences and…

There are few studies examining the wellbeing of Australian school-based psychologists/counsellors (SPCs) despite the research indicating there are unique stressors associated with the role. The purpose of this study was to measure the stress perceived by working Australian SPCs. Data were collected via an online survey within which the Perceived…

Rates of depression in youth are continuing to increase at a steady rate, yet these youth often do not receive mental health services (Bertha & Balázs, 2013; Thomas et al., 2011). Schools are an ideal setting to connect youth to mental health services; however, many barriers exist with respect to schools having adequate resources and access to…

As the demographics of the student population in the United States grow more culturally diverse, the need for culturally competent school psychologists becomes more evident. To meet the needs of a culturally diverse student population and their families, school psychologists must possess the knowledge and skills to provide culturally appropriate…

In this data brief, we examine both the scores and pass rates for the Praxis 5403 School Psychology test (Praxis 5403) by racial-ethnic group and gender for the period September 1, 2023, to August 31, 2024. The Praxis 5403 is the most often used external assessment in school psychology, and a passing score on the Praxis 5403 is a requirement to…

Immigration at the southern border of the United States has a complicated history. This article focuses on youth who have arrived in the United States via the southern border. It is important to note that within that population, youth will have a wide variety of experiences with immigration depending on their family, community, and personal…

Religion and Spirituality are core aspects of diversity that must be addressed in psychological practice. Attending to and integrating students' spiritual beliefs, from assessment through intervention, is an ethical responsibility in school psychology, essential for fostering resilience and promoting inclusive, culturally responsive, and…

School psychologists constantly seek innovative ways to support students and colleagues. They understand the unique challenges within schools, including complex student needs, systemic pressures, and ever-increasing paperwork. What if they could create custom digital tools like games, interactive simulations, or decision-making aids, all tailored…

Educational psychologists can play a number of roles within education settings. They are often called upon to assist with the assessment and treatment of disability issues, student behaviour and mental health problems, parent and teacher liaison, and counselling, to name a few. Less frequently pursued is an active role in establishing and…

The American ethos that you can be whatever you want to be has not always been a helpful adage for gifted students. Gifted students require career counseling to understand the world of work, and to identify their interests and values in addition to their already-identified talents. Academic planning and career development for gifted students is an…