Hobbies And Interests
Function
School psychologists may develop psychological and educational testing or administer these types of tests. They consult with students and school officials, intervene with at-risk students and they evaluate students within their school district.
Benefits
School psychologists not only identify problem behavior in students but they can also work with parents, students and school employees to create the best learning environment possible for children.
School psychologists play an important role in evaluating educational and emotional responses in children to the education they are receiving. They also serve an important function within their school district to reach out and help kids who may not go to a traditional school for a variety of reasons.
Risk Factors
Some at-risk students may be sent to the school psychologist rather than sent to a psychiatrist because of the ease of availability. While school psychologists can act as the first interveners to at-risk students, they usually do not have the time to give full psychological support to at need students and they do not have the ability to prescribe any medications that may be needed.
The Facts
School psychologists spend about half their time administrating psychological and educational tests for students of the school they work for as well as for children living within their school district who may be home schooled, have special education placement needs or are not yet of school age.
Twenty percent of their time is spent in consultation. This consultation usually involves working with parents and teachers to alter their behavior so it more positively impacts the behavior of students within the school.
There are more than 25,000 school psychologists and the demand for trained psychologists to work in the school setting is very high. It is expected that demand for school psychologists will continue to outweigh the supply of trained and certified applicants. About 70 percent of school psychologists are women.
Type
Eighty percent of school psychologists work within the public school setting on at least a part time basis. Some of this 80 percent will also work within their own private practice. About five percent of school psychologists are employed at private schools, halfway homes or correctional schools.
A much smaller portion of school psychologists work at colleges and universities. These school psychologists usually act as faculty members who train other faculty in theories of education and psychology. With the rise of violence and drug and alcohol use on college campuses there is a big movement to increase the number of psychologists actually practicing on college campuses.
Almost all school psychologists will work to one degree or another in their schools special needs program. Some of these programs have school psychologists assigned specifically to the program who works very closely with special needs students.