Disruptive Changes to the Field of School Psychology

1. Disruptive Changes to the Field of School Psychology Degree and Curriculum Options: Doctoral Level Focus David Gotthelf, Ph.D., NCSP Newton Public Schools Newton, Massachusetts

2. Discussion Questions • How to balance student needs with multiple credentialing requirements? • What is the focus of the curriculum? • What to include in the curriculum? • Health Service Providers? Legislative efforts? • What will help students to be competitive on the job market? • Internship & credentialing requirements

3. Balancing our Respective Needs • Newton Public Schools is a large suburb just west of Boston • 85,000 residents • Majority are high SES • Many are in health care and/or mental health care • Over 13,000 students • 15 elementary schools • 4 middle schools • 2 high schools • About 25% of our students are on 504 plans or IEPs.

4. Balancing our respective needs (cont.) • The demand for mental health services has increased significantly along with the mental health needs: • ASD • Anxiety and Stress in and out of school • Trauma related to family dysfunction • At-Risk behaviors, including suicide and homicide • Newton: 3 completed suicides this year, including one last week.

5. What to Include in the Curriculum • Neuropsychological approach to assessment • RTI approach to social/emotional learning • Awareness and use of evidence-based curriculum • Training school psychologists to be able to train teachers and administrators • Ability to assess at-risk behaviors

6. Health Service Providers? • NPS has 22 school psychologists • 11 are licensed HSPs; 13 are doctoral level • All are building-based, providing assessment, direct service, and consultation. • We have a department head and meet as a department on a regular basis. • Given the increasing mental health demands, we are finding it less helpful to train practicum students, and more helpful to have doctoral level interns.

7. Legislative Efforts • NPS working collaboratively with local training programs and the MSPA in an effort to have the Massachusetts Licensing Board recognize schools as bona fide doctoral level intern settings. • NPS applied for and has been recognized by MA Licensing Board as a Health Service Setting • NPS is moving forward regarding stipends and recognition by APPIC and the APA • NPS has testified in support of legislation regarding schools as internship sites.

8. Collaborate with the APA?

9. Helping Students Be Competitive • Working knowledge of basic neuropsychological assessment instruments • Risk assessment training • Experience working with special populations, particularly students with ASD. • RTI approach to SEL and the ability to train teachers and staff. • Consultation training and experience

10. Internship and Credentialing Requirements • Establishment of a working relationship between the state Dept. of Education and the state licensing board. • NASP and state school psychology associations taking leadership roles in this area • Ensuring that internship credentials are based on realistic needs, not policies that are actually unnecessary. • Example: Schools do not need to have a psychology department, a requirement of the MA Licensing Brd. • Making sure schools and other internship sites actually practice what they preach.

11. Action Plan Questions: • What outcome does this group desire? • How do we set an action plan?