Intervention fidelity is the extent to which an individual- or systems-level student intervention is delivered comprehensively in a manner aligned with the initial plan. This first installment in a three-part series on intervention fidelity highlights the importance of ensuring classroom supports are implemented as intended and introduces…

As sports are the most popular extracurricular activity for children and adolescents, student-athletes are an ever-present population on campus and have unique risk and resilience factors as well as needs related to their well-being on and off the field. Mind-body health practices are a broad group of interventions that target physical and…

Devastating school shootings have spawned a cottage industry of untested responses to school violence. Some involve target hardening, or making schools less vulnerable to violent attacks. School administrators and community members can be quick to gravitate towards target hardening measures for preventing school violence. However, crime prevention…

African American school psychologists are very much underrepresented in school psychology; over 85% of school psychologists who completed the 2020 National Association of School Psychologists (NASP) membership survey were White, while just 3.9% of members identified as Black or African American (Goforth et al., 2021). This represented a slight…

School psychologists are well served to stay up to date on trends in special education law, particularly with respect to determinations when school teams' decisions are challenged. This allows them to focus on proactive best practices that foster accurate specific learning disability (SLD) identification and active collaboration with parents. This…

There is evidence that cyberbullying is a problem that is increasing among children and adolescents. Although often occurring outside of school, its effects often find their way into the offices of principals and school mental health providers. This article reviews the issues involved in cyberbullying and its effects and points the way toward…

Due to the increased risks of neurocognitive impairment when a child is diagnosed with Type 1 diabetes (T1D) at an early age, early identification and assessment are critical. A study by Nadebaum et al. (2012) found that cognition is impaired in a significant number of children at the time of diagnosis, and those who are initially impaired show a…

It is important to understand the contexts which lead to alternative education programming. The ways in which problem behavior is defined detrimentally impacts ethnically and racially minoritized populations and students with disabilities. Additionally, the pipeline to alternative education, with opportunities for increased supports and services,…

Schools are currently facing significant success gaps for students with disabilities, particularly those students with intersectional, marginalized identities. Establishing systematic, collaborative tiered supports is essential to reduce student success gaps and simultaneously prevent staff burnout. Yet, the required system change varies across…

Down syndrome is one of the leading causes of intellectual disability, and individuals with Down syndrome experience various health issues including learning and memory deficits, congenital heart diseases, Alzheimer's or other dementias, leukemia, cancers, and Hirschsprung disease. School psychologists have a vital role in the success of students…

California has one of the largest populations of multilingual learners (MLs) in the United States (California Department of Education [CDE], 2020; 2021). These MLs have unique strengths and needs, which require school psychologists to have specialized training (Gonzalez et al., 2022; Harris et al., 2021). However, few school psychology training…

Phasing out ineffective programs may free up resources for more effective alternatives and improve student outcomes. This review of the literature on the de-implementation process in schools includes a practical guide that can be used to ensure students receive the most effective services available. This framework can be applied to illustrate how…

"Evaluation" under the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA) is among the major responsibilities of school psychologists. This concluding article in the series on evaluation under the IDEA provides legal analysis and professional recommendations related to procedural appropriateness. Specifically, it addresses notices,…

By intentionally implementing strategies to partner with caregivers before, during, and after the evaluation process, school psychologists can empower families and improve student outcomes. The National Association of School Psychologists (NASP, 2019) has advocated for engaging families as active partners, emphasizing the importance of forming…

NASP's Annual Regional Leadership Meeting (RLM) brings together leaders for training and discussions about issues important to school psychology. For 2023, RLM for the first time included affinity groups as part of the implementation of NASP's equity, diversity, and inclusion (EDI) plan. This article will define affinity groups and describe the…