Article archive / March 1, 2014
Originally published: . Volume 5, No. 7. Source pages: 5.
Senator Daniel Martiny is offering a bill for the State Board of Examiners of Psychologists that will create a new license under the psychology board for “Specialist in School Psychology.” The measure would add to existing psychology law, the definition of “Licensed specialist in school psychology.”
If approved, SB 128 will define the practice of the licensed specialist in school psychology, as “the application of psychological principles, methods, and procedures to help children and youth succeed academically, socially, behaviorally, and emotionally. Licensed specialists in school psychology collaborate with educators, parents, and other professionals to create safe, healthy, and supportive learning environments that strengthen the connection between home, school, and the community for all students. They apply their knowledge of both psychology and education during consultation and collaboration with others and conduct effective decision making using a foundation of assessment and data collection. Licensed specialists in school psychology provide services to schools and families that enhance the competence and well-being of children, including promotion of effective and safe learning environments, prevention of academic and behavior problems, response to crises, and improvement of the collaboration between schools and families. The key foundations for all services provided by licensed specialists in school psychology are understanding of diversity in development and learning, research and program evaluation, and legal, ethical, and professional practices. The types of evaluations performed by licensed specialists in school psychology will be those that are germane to the current state educational bulletins. No school-based evaluations conducted by licensed specialists in school psychology shall employ Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders or International Classification of Diseases diagnosis.”
Among other requirements, the proposed law establishes that the licensed specialist will have completed a school specialist degree from a National Association of School Psychologists approved program or equivalent; will have completed three years of supervised experience as a certified school psychologist within the public school system; and will have passed the Nationally Certified School Psychologist examination.
Proposed law provides that a licensed specialist in school psychology who is working outside of the school system shall be required to do so under the clinical supervision of a licensed psychologist. The licensed psychologist shall be administratively and clinically responsible for the final work product of the licensed specialist in school psychology, and the licensed psychologist shall be required to sign any final reports prepared by the licensed specialist in school psychology.
The legislative digest for HB 128 says that nothing in proposed law shall be construed to limit in any way the duties and responsibilities of a school psychologist certified by the La Dept. of Education. Also, an initial fee for application is to be less than $200, and renewals less than $100, per year.
A task force formed by the state psychology board and led by Dr. Rita Culross of LSU, produced a report about the issues in the state regarding school psychology services. The report highlighted a severe shortage of psychological services for school children throughout the state, noting that there are 69 psychologists with a specialty in school, licensed by the LSBEP and residing in the state. And, only 17 of the 64 parishes have a local school psychologist in the area. While there are 240 certified school psychologists in Louisiana, none of these can practice outside of a public school.
With a population of 690,000 students in Louisiana schools, the ratio of certified school psychologists to Louisiana students is 1 to 2875 and the ratio of licensed school psychologists is 1 to 10,000 or greater, said the authors found.
Dr. Rita Culross, wrote, “The task force believes strongly that the creation of this additional level of licensure under LSBEP would strengthen the practice of psychology within Louisiana, increase the availability of services to children and families throughout the state, and provide an enhanced level of protection to the public.” The task group and legislative effort was a collaborative community effort between a number of groups.
Discussions at the first meeting of the school specialist task force created by the psychology board. From left and clockwise are Chair Dr. Rita Culross, E. Francoise Parr, President of the Louisiana School Psychological Association, Dr. Steven Welsh, retired dean and professor at Nicholls State University, Dr. Carmen Broussard, Associate Professor of Psychology at Nicholls, Dr. Conni Patterson, Professor of Practice at Tulane University and past president of the Louisiana School Psychological Association, and Kelly Parker, Executive Director of the psychology board.
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