Discrepancies between recommended and actual practices of school psychologists have plagued the field for decades. Previous studies have examined and identified differences in school psychology practices based upon geographical location within the United States as well as between community settings (e.g., rural, urban). The present study sought to fill a gap in the literature (Hosp & Reschly, 2002) by examining the actual and perceived needed practices of school psychologists in the East South Central (ESC) census division of the United States and compare those practices to the National Association of School Psychologists (NASP) Practice Model (NASP, 2020c). Sixty-five school psychologists from the ESC division completed an adapted and reproduced version of the NASP Membership Survey (Walcott & Hyson, 2018) measuring a number of demographic variables as well as their engagement in a variety of school psychologist activities and services using a 7-point Likert-scale. Participants rated their actual practice during the most recently completed school year and rated the level of engagement in those same practices they thought was needed to best serve students in their district during a typical school year. Results indicated that as a whole, school psychologists in the ESC division do not engage in a comprehensive service delivery model as recommended by NASP. Rather, their perceived need for services was more closely aligned to the NASP Practice Model (NASP, 2020c). State-level comparisons indicated that school psychologists in Alabama practice under a traditional gatekeeper of special education model (Merrell et al., 2006) compared to their counterparts in Kentucky and Tennessee. School psychologists in Kentucky reported more engagement in mental-health related services than participants from other states. Community-level comparisons indicated that school psychologists practicing in urban settings are more engaged in a comprehensive service delivery model than those practicing in rural or suburban areas. No specific practices were identified as more needed than others by school psychologists in rural settings. Implications for future research include analysis of organizational factors contributing to discrepancies with implications for practice related to advocacy efforts.

Portrays the current landscape of school psychology practice in the United States and beyond from a social justice perspective Distinguished by its concentrated focus on social justice, this text serves as a comprehensive introduction to the practice and profession of school psychology for advanced undergraduate and graduate students. The second edition delivers updated content that reflects the newly released National Association of School Psychologists (NASP) Professional Standards and offers new chapters on antiracism; international school psychology; school psychology research; crisis prevention and intervention; and family, school, and community collaboration. Woven throughout is pertinent information on telehealth and COVID-19. The second edition reflects the perspectives of authors with a diverse range of cultural identities. It also includes a glossary of key terms and abundant recommendations for further reading. The text first addresses the historical, multicultural, training, legal and ethical foundations of school psychology—critical to understanding the contemporary scope and status of the discipline. The second section, describing the roles and functions of the school psychologist, meets the learner's needs by first outlining the most basic principles of assessment and intervention and then describing their application to various areas of practice. Finally, the book describes anticipated trends in practice and present steps for embarking on a career in school psychology. All chapters—clearly mapped to the NASP Practice Model—integrate content on systematic injustice in schools and the psychologist's role in advancing equity. The text contains many features designed to facilitate learning, including Chapter Objectives, Social Justice Connections, Discussion Questions, and Recommended Readings. Instructors also have access to sample course syllabi, Test Bank, and chapter PowerPoints. New to the Second Edition: New chapters on antiracism; international school psychology; school psychology research; crisis prevention and intervention; and family, school, and community collaboration Embeds new content throughout on telehealth, COVID-19, distance learning, and leadership Clearly maps the new NASP 2020 Professional Standards in each chapter Includes the contributions of accomplished new authors representing diverse multicultural backgrounds Key Features: Infuses a social justice orientation throughout the text Centers antiracism as a critical pillar of school psychology Includes chapter objectives and discussion questions to promote critical thinking Includes a review of foundational and prerequisite concepts essential for understanding school psychology service delivery

Case Studies in School Psychology is the first textbook to comprehensively introduce the NASP Practice Model through active discussion of real-life, school-based examples of issues facing school psychologists. Incorporating all 10 domains of practice, these true-to-life scenarios span individual child, class-wide, school-wide, and district/community-wide organizational levels across multiple age and developmental ranges. Graduate students will better understand their expansive roles and potential avenues to make positive impacts as school psychologists in children’s academic, social, emotional, and behavioral development.