School Psychology Course

Lesson 1 • History and Evolution of the Field

Traces school psychology from early special education roots to a comprehensive service model. Provides context for understanding current professional identity.

Lesson 2 • Professional Roles and Responsibilities

Defines the practitioner's scope across assessment, intervention, and consultation. Connects role clarity to effective service delivery.

Lesson 3 • Ethical Principles and Professional Standards

Applies core ethical principles—confidentiality, informed consent, and competence—to school settings. Grounds all subsequent practice in ethical decision-making.

Lesson 4 • Diversity, Equity, and Cultural Competence

Introduces culturally responsive practice as a foundational professional obligation. Prepares students to serve diverse school populations equitably.

Lesson 1 • Cognitive Development Across the Lifespan

Covers Piagetian stages, information-processing theory, and executive function development. Links cognitive milestones to academic expectations.

Lesson 2 • Biological and Neurological Foundations

Reviews brain development, neuroplasticity, and the impact of adverse experiences on learning. Connects neuroscience to intervention rationale.

Lesson 3 • Social and Emotional Development

Examines attachment theory, peer relationships, and identity formation in school-age youth. Informs social-emotional learning programme design.

Lesson 1 • Cognitive and Intellectual Assessment

Introduces major intelligence batteries, score interpretation, and profile analysis. Connects cognitive data to academic and behavioural hypotheses.

Lesson 2 • Behavioural and Emotional Assessment

Covers rating scales, structured interviews, and observational methods for behavioural and emotional functioning. Integrates multiple informants for comprehensive data.

Lesson 3 • Report Writing and Communication of Results

Teaches clear, jargon-free psychological report writing and effective feedback conferences. Translates technical data into actionable recommendations.

Lesson 4 • Measurement Theory and Test Construction

Covers reliability, validity, standardisation, and norm-referencing as the basis for test interpretation. Ensures students evaluate instrument quality critically.

Lesson 1 • Section 504 and Accommodation Planning

Distinguishes 504 plans from IEPs and outlines evaluation and accommodation procedures. Prepares students to support students who do not qualify for special education.

Lesson 2 • Individualised Education Plan Development

Covers IEP components, measurable goal writing, and service determination. Connects evaluation findings directly to programme design.

Lesson 3 • Comprehensive Evaluation Planning

Guides selection of assessment tools and procedures matched to referral concerns. Ensures evaluations are individualised, nondiscriminatory, and legally compliant.

Lesson 4 • Response to Intervention and Multi-Tiered Support

Explains tiered intervention frameworks as both a service delivery model and an eligibility pathway. Links progress monitoring data to decision-making.

Lesson 1 • Social-Emotional Learning Interventions

Introduces evidence-based SEL programmes targeting emotion regulation, social skills, and problem-solving. Links SEL outcomes to academic engagement.

Lesson 2 • Cognitive-Behavioural Techniques in Schools

Adapts CBT principles for school-based delivery targeting anxiety, depression, and anger. Prepares students to provide brief, structured individual support.

Lesson 3 • Progress Monitoring and Intervention Adjustment

Teaches data collection, graphing, and decision rules for evaluating intervention effectiveness. Ensures interventions are modified based on student response data.

Lesson 4 • Academic Intervention Design

Covers instructional strategies for reading, maths, and writing difficulties grounded in research. Connects intervention selection to assessment-identified skill deficits.

Lesson 1 • Screening and Early Identification

Covers universal mental health screening tools, procedures, and follow-up protocols. Connects early identification to timely intervention.

Lesson 2 • Prevalence and Impact of Student Mental Health

Reviews epidemiology of childhood mental health disorders and their academic consequences. Establishes the rationale for school-based mental health services.

Lesson 3 • Suicide Risk Assessment and Crisis Response

Covers evidence-based suicide risk assessment protocols and school crisis response procedures. Prepares students to act decisively in life-threatening situations.

Lesson 4 • Trauma-Informed School Practices

Applies trauma-informed care principles to school policies, classroom practices, and individual support. Reduces re-traumatisation and builds student safety.

Lesson 1 • Interdisciplinary Team Collaboration

Prepares students to function effectively within multidisciplinary teams including educators, counsellors, and medical professionals. Clarifies role boundaries and shared goals.

Lesson 2 • Family Engagement and Partnership

Covers culturally responsive family engagement strategies and effective communication techniques. Strengthens home-school partnerships to support student success.

Lesson 3 • Consulting with Teachers and Staff

Develops skills for building consultative relationships, delivering feedback, and supporting implementation. Addresses resistance and promotes teacher buy-in.

Lesson 4 • Consultation Models and Frameworks

Compares behavioural, mental health, and instructional consultation models. Provides a theoretical foundation for selecting the appropriate consultation approach.

Lesson 1 • Professional Development and Staff Training

Equips students to design and deliver effective professional development for school staff. Links adult learning principles to improved student outcomes.

Lesson 2 • School-Wide Positive Behavioural Interventions

Guides implementation of tiered school-wide behavioural support systems. Connects universal prevention to reduced disciplinary referrals and improved climate.

Lesson 3 • Organisational Change and Leadership

Applies change management theory to school improvement initiatives led by school psychologists. Develops advocacy and leadership competencies.

Lesson 4 • Programme Evaluation and Outcome Measurement

Introduces programme evaluation designs, logic models, and outcome metrics for school-based programmes. Builds capacity to demonstrate programme effectiveness.