A school psychologist is a practicioner who applies his psychological training to assess and help school children.
Historical highlights
School psychology began mainly through the testing movement, in the late 1800's, especially from people like Alfred Binet. Binet's work resembled school psychology of today, because he developed the first IQ test to screen children who would not benefit from regular education. Binet's test was brought to the U.S. in the early 1900's, and was standardized in 1916 by Lewis Terman of Stanford. Today it is known has the Stanford-Binet test. In 1975, Public Law 94-142 (Education of All Handicapped Children's Act) mandates the free and appropriate education of all individuals from 3-21 years of age. This act, also known as the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA) was require children to attend school, children who often would not receive any advantages of public education, could not benefit. Of course, these children, and sometimes adults, could not benefit from regular education. Hence, the profession of school psychology flourished has new tests and better tests needed to be developed to classify childhood psycho-pathology. This combined with years of lawsuits and litigations allowed the profession to flourish (Graduate School of Education, 2003).
Read more about:
- Theoretical framework and Services
- Education & Training
