Large Scale Assessments and High Stakes Decisions: Facts, Cautions and Guidelines
National Association of School Psychologists
A basic premise of standards-based reform is that all children can learn. Although some students may require more time or varied instruction, standards-based reform articulates the expectation that all students will be provided the opportunity to meet a common…
Factsheets
School Psychologists: Partners in Healthcare
National Association of School Psychologists
School psychologists are professionals specializing in both mental health and education, who provide services that help students succeed academically, emotionally and socially. They are trained to identify and address a wide range of barriers to school and community success, including learning disabilities, cognitive deficits, behavioral…
by Leslie F. Hale, Ed.D., NCSP, Bartlesville, OK
and Andrea Canter, Ph.D., NCSP, Minneapolis Schools
High School Dropouts Cost Everyone Something!
There are both personal and societal costs of dropping out. The loss of taxes, loss of production and the cost of assistance provided to dropouts make the problem of high school non-completion an issue…
The National Association of School Psychologists
Attention Deficit Disorder (ADD)/Attention Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) is one of the most commonly diagnosed disorders affecting students in the United States today. While the history of the diagnosis and treatment of this disorder has been bogged down in controversy in the past, large scale outcome studies in recent years…
National Association of School Psychologists
Disciplining students, particularly those with chronic or serious behavior problems, is a long-standing challenge for educators. They must balance the needs of the school community and those of the individual student. At the heart of this challenge is the use of punitive versus supportive disciplinary practices.? Though increasingly common in…
By Andrea Cohn & Andrea Canter, Ph.D., NCSP
National Association of School Psychologists
Bullying is a widespread problem in our schools and communities. The behavior encompasses physical aggression, threats, teasing, and harassment. Although it can lead to violence, bullying typically is not categorized with more serious forms of school violence involving weapons, vandalism, or physical…
Good social skills are critical to successful functioning in life. These skills enable us to know what to say, how to make good choices, and how to behave in diverse situations. The extent to which children and adolescents possess good social skills can influence their academic performance, behavior, social and family relationships, and involvement in…
Preventing school violence is a top priority for school and public safety officials today.? Efforts include creating more positive school environments, establishing crisis response teams, increasing security measures, and improving school/community collaboration.? Considerable energy also has been devoted to developing a process to identify students at-risk of becoming violent before they cause harm.? Unfortunately there…
The National Association of School Psychologists
What is Zero Tolerance?
"Zero Tolerance" initially was defined as consistently enforced suspension and expulsion policies in response to weapons, drugs and violent acts in the school setting. Over time, however, zero tolerance has come to refer to school or district-wide policies that mandate predetermined, typically harsh consequences or…