Non-classroom settings are often the most violence-prone areas within a school. This study investigated the impact of an interdependent group contingency on the disruptive behaviors of students in grades K-6 in an urban school cafeteria. Nine female noontime aides and National School and Community Corps staff members implemented the Lunchroom…

Suicide remains the third leading cause of death among young people in the United States. Considering that youth who contemplate suicide generally exhibit warning signs before engaging in lethal self-harm, school-based mental health professionals can play a vital role in identifying students who are at risk for suicidal behavior. Nevertheless, the…

In this article we provide an overview of the nature and scope of multisource feedback (MSF) and provide empirical evidence of its reliability, validity, and feasibility in one of the health professions. The overall internal consistency reliability (Cronbach alpha) of MSF instruments is generally greater than 0.96 for self and informants such as…

School psychologists frequently examine children who are prescribed psychotropic medications. With advanced training in psychological assessment and professional consultation, school psychologists may play an integral role in assisting with children's psychopharmacological treatment regimens. In this vein, this article discusses various ways for…

The role of the school psychologist has evolved from serving as a gatekeeper for special education eligibility to that of a change agent within the school. This shift in professional focus positions school psychologists with the capacity to make an impact beyond the school setting. This article provides an example of how the consultative skills…

School psychology in Canada has evolved in recent years from being comprised mainly of "testers" to being regarded as an important partner in promoting the psychological and educational needs of children and supporting the mandates of our educational systems. As well, school psychology is now recognized as an area of specialization within…

Calls for increased collaborative practices in school psychology parallel similar advances in the realm of health care. This article overviews the concepts associated with collaborative practice in school psychology and in health care (e.g., interaction, teamwork, and collaboration) and discusses how the literature emerging from interprofessional…

Despite the widespread acceptance of ecological models of child development, the tools and strategies underlying school psychological practice emphasize individual characteristics of children. This article describes ClassMaps Consultation, a consultation strategy that assesses the availability of protective factors and risk in school classrooms…

School psychologists often are involved with the provision of services to students with chronic physical health conditions and mental health problems. However, collaborative efforts between school psychologists and the medical professionals who treat these youth often are lacking despite the benefits that may result from interdisciplinary…

During the past 2 decades, pivotal response treatment (PRT) has emerged as an evidence-based methodology for intervening with the behavioral, communicative, social, and academic impairments of children with autism. Unlike other highly structured behavioral interventions for autism, PRT emphasizes principles over procedures and focuses on enhancing…

Teacher perceptions of their students' cognitive abilities affect the referrals they make and intervention strategies they implement. In this study, teachers and school psychologists were asked to sort basic academic tasks into categories on the basis of the Cattell-Horn-Carroll (CHC) broad cognitive abilities, such as fluid reasoning and…

Globalization is a dominant issue in all aspects of business and professional activities in the 21st Century. The International School Psychology Association and the International Test Commission have adopted ethics and competency guidelines to raise the standards of practice for their members. Other international organizations are doing likewise.…

This project involved a school psychologist's efforts to train teachers about chronic illnesses. A two-session training presentation was offered and supplemented by materials in written form and a specially designed Web site with links to additional resources. The training was offered to 91 educators in Georgia, United States. Training focused on…

This investigation explored the accuracy of a short form of the Wechsler Intelligence Scale for Children-Third Edition (WISC-III} in predicting Full Scale IQ when administered as a separate test. The Dumont-Faro short form (i.e., Picture Completion, Information, Coding, Block Design, and Vocabulary; Dumont & Faro, 1993) was administered to 60…

The pressures and demands of educating students have never been greater. Providing effective instruction for all students may be the single greatest challenge facing educators today. This article examines the impact of No Child Left Behind and the Individuals with Disabilities Act on assessment, accountability and instruction for all students,…