Volume 50, Issue 1 (September 2021)

• Indigenous Youth in Schools: Consequences of Colonialism and Advocating for a Better Future

  School psychologists advocate for kids every day when they lead IEP meetings, conduct counseling sessions, consult with parents, and work with community agencies. This article identifies five major consequences of colonization and how school psychologists can address these issues through a variety of advocacy strategies tailored to students’ lived experiences. … more

• Supporting Students With Post-Acute Sequelae of SARS-CoV-2 Infection: Applying Lessons Learned From Postconcussion Symptoms

  Students who were infected with the COVID-19 virus may experience post-acute COVID complications. A collaborative care model, very gradual return to school and activity, and academic and environmental accommodations, many of which overlap with those educators use to support students with concussions, may help support students who have persistent symptoms. … more

• Positioning School Psychologists as Advocates for Comprehensive Sexuality Education in Schools

  In an effort to call on school psychologists to advocate for comprehensive sex education curriculum in the United States, this article outlines the state of sex education practices and policies in schools. It then addresses issues associated with stigma and demonstrates how comprehensive sex education is an appropriate and necessary approach to better support the holistic sexual development of children and adolescents. Resources are provided to begin conversations and build community around topics of sex and sexuality with students. … more

• Happy Anniversary, Communiqué!

  Welcome back, friends and colleagues, to another school year and another year of Communiqué! The start of the school year is always exciting, and here at Communiqué it is especially so as we celebrate our 50th anniversary. … more

• Engaging Hearts and Minds

  Happy New Year! Like many of us who work in schools, NASP organizes years from July to June instead of January to December. I am honored to begin my year as NASP president, and I pledge to do my best to deserve the trust members have placed in me. No one can know exactly what schools will look like and what will be asked of school psychologists in the next year, but one thing we can all know for sure is that NASP will continue to support school psychologists in doing the work that helps children and youth grow and thrive. … more

• Disruptive Innovation Defines Leadership Opportunities: State Organization Strategic Goal and Agenda Advancements

  There is no question that NASP Past President Wendy Price's presidential theme for 2020–2021, “The Power of Possibility,” was indeed the perfect tagline to not only describe the landscape for the school psychology profession during the pandemic, but also highlight the optimistic and problem-solving nature of school psychologist leaders. … more

• Impact of Migration-Related Trauma Experiences on Mental Health Outcomes of Latinx Immigrant Youth

  This article explores the literature on the prevalence of migration-related trauma for Latinx immigrant youth and the effect this trauma on youth mental health outcomes. Protectiveand risk factors for this population are explored and implications for school-based practitioners are provided. … more

• Transition Services Under the IDEA: A Legal Overview and Update

  The purposes of this article are (a) to canvass the current legislation, regulations, and illustrative agency policy interpretations specific to “transition services” under the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act and (b) to provide an update of the court decisions since the coverage of an earlier overview of the case law (Zirkel, 2017). … more

• Engaging White Students and Families in a Time of Racial Reckoning

  Efforts should be made to engage White students and families in the work of antiracism and to challenge White supremacy. The principles of social justice are integral to NASP’s practice domains. Given the recent political upheaval in the United States, school psychologists are well positioned to lead such efforts. … more

• Boston, Here We Come!

  Why come to Boston in February 2022? Because Boston has it all. Indeed, Boston is one of America's greatest cities. Known as “The Cradle of Liberty,” Boston is steeped in American history and culture. The city offers unparalleled historical sites while also housing world-class museums and extraordinary restaurants, music, theater, waterfront spaces, and some pretty awesome professional sports. … more

• We're Back in Person!

  We are so excited to be back in person at the NASP 2022 Annual Convention in Boston. Our 2021 Virtual Convention was a huge success, but there is nothing like being together in one place with more than 5,000 fellow school psychologists. As always, we have a terrific program and the City of Boston promises a great time for everyone. … more

• Let's Get in GEAR: National School Psychology Week, November 8–12, 2021

  National School Psychology Week (NSPW) is a fun, easy way to highlight the vital work that school psychologists and other educators do to help all students thrive. This year's theme of “Let's Get in GEAR!” enables you to highlight what you and others can do to help students identify and develop their academic, social, emotional, and behavioral skills, and the evidence-based practices that help them achieve their best. … more

• Program to Engage in Conversations About Systemic Racism

  Emily Neubauer, NCSP, works primarily with elementary students (3-year-olds to fourth grade) at two schools within Capital School District in Dover, DE. Capital School District serves culturally and racially diverse suburban, urban, and rural communities. Some of the district-based programs include: Spanish immersion, Intensive Learning Center, 21st Century Community Learning Center, Advanced Placement, Career and Technical Education, and Gifted and Talented Education. … more

• Self-Nominations Due for NASP 2022 Elections

  NASP's nominating process is simple. The association takes self-nominations from any eligible NASP member wishing to seek election as a NASP officer or delegate. Delegate candidates must have their official NASP mailing address be the state or territory wherein they are seeking election. … more

• Future School Psychologists Clubs

  Historically, despite more formal efforts to spread awareness about the profession (e.g., National School Psychologists Week presentations, word of mouth), many school psychologists discover the field “by accident” or happenstance. This, in conjunction with attrition, training constraints, an expanding role in schools, and an ever-evolving need for increased school psychologist-to-student ratios to address unmet academic and mental health needs, has resulted in a critical shortage of school psychologists nationwide. … more

• Tech Lessons That Stick After a Virtual School Year

  Since the pandemic struck in March 2020, school psychologists have been scrambling to find technological solutions to provide services to students. As school psychologists return to an in-person school year, they should pause to reflect on what lessons from technology will stick and become incorporated into everyday practice. … more

• Leveraging Graduate Training Experiences to Advocate for Socially Just School Psychological Practices

• Diagnosing Learning Disorders: From Science to Practice, 3rd Ed.

  School psychologists are scientist practitioners who work with individuals diagnosed with a wide variety of learning disorders. Thus, it is important that they keep abreast of current research on diagnosis and treatment. This most recent installment of Diagnosing Learning Disorders is an informative resource for school psychologists seeking to update their knowledge on a range of disorders including autism spectrum disorder (ASD), reading disorder, mathematics disorder, attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), and intellectual disabilities. … more

• Executive Functions: What They Are, How They Work, and Why They Evolved

  This volume, a paperback reprint of Barkley's earlier edition released in 2012, provides a framework with which to explain executive functions (EF) as an evolutionary expression of Darwinist theories within cognition. The usefulness to the practitioner is in its handling of how to operationally define EFs, how to assess them in affected individuals, and how to intervene in ways that will improve outcomes for the client. … more

• Theory and Cases in School-Based Consultation: A Resource for School Psychologists, School Counselors, Special Educators, and Other Mental Health Professionals, 2nd Edition

  Theory and Cases in School-Based Consultation, 2nd Edition is a timely and updated research-based guide that can be used by graduate educators to assist emerging practitioners in understanding, developing, and applying consultation problem solving skills in practice. The text provides information and case studies to illustrate the differing models of consultation in disciplines such as counseling and social work as well. … more

• Autism Spectrum Disorder in the First Years of Life: Research, Assessment, and Treatment

  Presented as an array of scholarly articles focused on the current research of how autism spectrum disorder (ASD) presents in children who are very young, the book provides insights, explanations, new developments, ongoing research concerns, and unanswered questions highlighted by some of the top leaders in the field. … more

• Send Us Your Legal Questions

  We are inviting you to send in questions about legal issues related to your practice as school psychologists. Perry Zirkel, university professor emeritus of education and law at Lehigh University, will answer selected questions in his Communiqué column, Ask Perry. … more

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