First and foremost, school psychologists are advocates for children. They are professionals who work along with students, parents, and educators to resolve any of a variety of educational problems. Their expertise in both psychology and education make them uniquely qualified for this task. They rarely work independently but rather as a member of a team of professionals devoted to improving the quality of education for individual students.

professionals. If a Full and Individual Evaluation (FIE) is needed, then the school psychologist selects and administers the needed assessments. Other professionals, such as physicians or Speech Language Pathologists (SLP),may also contribute to the evaluation. Once the evaluation is completed, the school psychologist prepares a written report and presents the findings to an ARD committee. As a member of the ARD committee, the school psychologist may recommend specific educational strategies or placements for the student.

In addition to evaluations, school psychologists may provide other direct services to students. Some offer counseling, either to individual students or small groups. When counseling is provided, it is always with the consent of the parent (or guardian), and with the intent of helping the student achieve educational goals.

School psychologists support the general needs of the campus by providing consultative services to administrators or teachers. They can assist in developing educational or behavioral goals for students. They also might suggest specific techniques or strategies to be used in helping student reach those goals. Sometimes, the school psychologist may work as a team member providing support to a campus during a time of crisis.