Suggests principles that elementary school counselors and child psychologists may use when circumstances involve the question of disclosing to parents or guardians client information received during counseling. Professionals must take special care to guard the child's best interests while considering the rights of adult caregivers. (JAC)

Discusses the types of services school psychologists could provide as assessment consultants to child study teams. Suggests that by minimizing their diagnostic functions, psychologists would have more time to provide alternative services that consumers of school psychological services expect. Discusses the role of psychologists in special…

Discusses the functions of the educational psychologist in improving classroom instruction, including assessment, dissemination of research findings, conducting applied research, evaluation, and systems analysis. Summarizes some important educational research findings and dimensions of systems analysis evaluation. (RC)

Recognizing the changing role of parents of handicapped children in the educational planning process, the advocacy roles and responsibilities for parent involvement are identified and discussed in light of their implications for school psychologists. Materials available to assist in the training of parents are presented. (Author/RL)

Returns from over 2,700 school psychologists were analyzed according to primary employer; sex; age; race; professional membership; highest degree; salary; title; certificates; and licenses. Information provided will be used for research and policy decisions. (MH)

A study of the language proficiency assessment practices of 859 school psychologists, when working with bilingual or limited English proficient students, found that 62 percent of school psychologists conducted their own assessments and most often used the Peabody Picture Vocabulary Test-Revised or the Test de Vocabulario en Imagenes Peabody.…

Elaborates the concept of "keystone target variable selection" for school psychological practice. "Keystone variables" refers to relatively narrow targets for change having the most widespread benefits to clients. The hypothesized benefits of selecting keystone targets for change include more effective and efficient interventions. (KW)

Outlines a four-year partnership with a school district in which a unique prereferral intervention approach was developed. Difficult-to-teach students outperformed students in control groups and district personnel seemed to embrace the program. However, school personnel did not continue to use the approach; the article explores why this happened.…

Study assessed the current status of prereferral practices in Michigan. Directors of special education responded to surveys addressing issues such as whether prereferral intervention was required and so forth. Results indicated that most districts encourage prereferral practices and that academic and behavior management strategies are equally…

Describes five school crises. In each case example, errors in crisis management by school staff exacerbated the crisis and resulted in deleterious consequences for the school, its students, and the surrounding community. Identifies common themes of leadership, teamwork, and responsibility that are critical to successful crisis management.…

Examines current educational reforms and their influences against a backdrop of historical change in education. Suggests future directions of school psychology and proposes a renewed emphasis on science. Assessment is reexamined with a focus on empirically based intervention and a systematic evaluation of outcomes. Discusses the implications and…

Examines the patterns of individual adjustment changes in a sample of 99 early adolescents during an ecological transition from elementary school to middle school. Shows significant changes in adjustment as indicated by increased psychological distress or decreased academic achievement. Examines gender differences. Presents implications for…

The purpose of this article is to provide the reader with an orientation to the concepts and principles of autonomy and self-determination and the application of those concepts and principles to working with children and adolescents who have intellectual and developmental disabilities (ID/DD), including autism. Self-determination is essentially…

For decades Colorado, USA, has had a shortage of school psychologists, especially in rural areas. The program "Giving Rural Areas Access to School Psychologist" (GRAASP) was developed to meet this need by offering a technology based distance education program that trained candidates from remote sites across the state. Through the use of…

A survey of 171 individuals, including individuals from government, university, school division/districts, parent, and community groups, found that teachers are the primary agents for identifying youth at risk; formal assessments of youth at-risk are conducted by school psychologists or other psychologists; and early identification of students…