Education

Help Wanted: School Psychologists

By Janelle Callahan — March 27, 2008 1 min read
  • Save to favorites
  • Print

School psychologists offer counseling and targeted programs to help students with learning, social, and behavioral problems. With expert knowledge of psychology, child development, learning, and education systems, school psychologists are trained to provide assessments and interventions, especially for special needs students.

The National Association of School Psychologists recommends one school psychologist per 1,000 students. In 2004, NASP found a U.S. average of one school psychologist per 1,621 students, down from an average of 1,816 in 1999. According to data collected by the National Association of State Boards of Education, only seven states have policies that recommend a ratio of school psychologists to students. And only two of those states—Indiana and South Carolina—have policies that meet NASP’s recommendation.

State Policy for Ratio of School Psychologists to Students

Ratio policies, of course, do not ensure quality services, but they do offer a starting point toward determining school system needs. Research suggests that mental health screening and early intervention can prevent serious problems, such as violence and depression among students. To read more about this issue, see “Schools’ Role in Mental-Health Care Uneven, Experts Say,” (Education Week, May 1, 2007).

Events

Student Well-Being Webinar After-School Learning Top Priority: Academics or Fun?
Join our expert panel to discuss how after-school programs and schools can work together to help students recover from pandemic-related learning loss.
Budget & Finance Webinar Leverage New Funding Sources with Data-Informed Practices
Address the whole child using data-informed practices, gain valuable insights, and learn strategies that can benefit your district.
This content is provided by our sponsor. It is not written by and does not necessarily reflect the views of Education Week's editorial staff.
Sponsor
Classroom Technology Webinar
ChatGPT & Education: 8 Ways AI Improves Student Outcomes
Revolutionize student success! Don't miss our expert-led webinar demonstrating practical ways AI tools will elevate learning experiences.
Content provided by Inzata

EdWeek Top School Jobs

Teacher Jobs
Search over ten thousand teaching jobs nationwide — elementary, middle, high school and more.
View Jobs
Principal Jobs
Find hundreds of jobs for principals, assistant principals, and other school leadership roles.
View Jobs
Administrator Jobs
Over a thousand district-level jobs: superintendents, directors, more.
View Jobs
Support Staff Jobs
Search thousands of jobs, from paraprofessionals to counselors and more.
View Jobs

Read Next

Education Briefly Stated: May 17, 2023
Here's a look at some recent Education Week articles you may have missed.
8 min read
Education Briefly Stated: May 3, 2023
Here's a look at some recent Education Week articles you may have missed.
8 min read
Education Briefly Stated: April 26, 2023
Here's a look at some recent Education Week articles you may have missed.
8 min read
Education Briefly Stated: March 29, 2023
Here's a look at some recent Education Week articles you may have missed.
8 min read