In recent years, more and more information has emerged about the high prevalence and impact of childhood trauma. In response to many calls for more work and more resources on how best to support trauma-exposed youth, the National Association of School Psychologists (NASP) Social Justice Committee selected this topic as its programmatic focus for…

The novel coronavirus has created a challenging, difficult, and chronic period of unhealthy stress for everyone associated with today's schools: teachers, parents, students, counselors, and administrators alike, both in the United States and globally. This article offers psychologists in the schools a resource for information on what to consider…

In this article, the authors review and synthesize the current research literature on social media in the context of educational best practices and adaptive strategies for youth. They also outline some of the ways that the Social Emotional and Character Development (SECD) Laboratory at Rutgers University has been using social media to promote…

There is evidence that cyberbullying is a problem that is increasing among children and adolescents. Although often occurring outside of school, its effects often find their way into the offices of principals and school mental health providers. This article reviews the issues involved in cyberbullying and its effects and points the way toward…

Just as school psychologists have had to adapt to the evolving requirements to stay safe and protect students, so have the National Association of School Psychologists (NASP) and state associations. In February 2021, NASP held a virtual convention with over 9,000 in attendance. State associations have also made adjustments in response to this…

Today we are living in an era of two pandemics--the COVID-19 global health pandemic and the racial inequity pandemic--and at the same time, anxiety over school shootings is increasing. When assessing school-based threats of violence, equitable procedures and protocols are needed to guide decision-making and ensure that high-level interventions are…

The May 2021 "Communiqué" article, "Professional Practice: Disruptive Innovation Defines Leadership Opportunities: Membership Engagement," explored how the National Association of School Psychologists (NASP) and state associations transitioned with disruptive innovation practices to support members during the COVID-19 pandemic.…

Prior to the COVID-19 pandemic, the National Association of School Psychologists (NASP) Social Justice Committee (SJC) chose the theme of health disparities as the focus of the committee's work for the 2020-2021 school year. The pandemic underscored the importance of this theme and school psychologists' understanding of health disparities through…

Since schools have generally resumed full in-person services, the legal issues for students with disabilities include not only the continuing line of cases challenging the level and efficacy of services during the pandemic but also the potential disputes about implementation or nonimplementation of "compensatory services" per federal and…

Students feeling anxiety about tests is a perennial problem, but the topic is rarely covered formally in either school psychologists' training or in journals in the field. Admittedly, test anxiety is not a recognized psychiatric disorder, and it is generally insufficient on its own to lead to special education or a disability accommodation plan.…

As schools began to close in March of 2020, there was a quick transition to online and virtual options to keep students engaged in learning and to protect students from COVID-19. With schools suspending in-person classes, many children stopped engaging in academic instructional activities due to lack of technological resources, school programming,…

Safe, stable, nurturing relationships between students and school personnel are essential for students' psychosocial development. All students should have access to these relationships, regardless of their background, race, gender, or disability status. Over the past several years, young people have experienced an extraordinary amount of social…

The COVID-19 pandemic has complicated the identification and delivery of special education services for students across the United States. Many students, regardless of previous disability status, are demonstrating increased academic, social-emotional, and medical needs in school in response to instructional disruptions and other impacts of the…

The COVID-19 pandemic thrust the field of school psychology into unchartered territory--navigating how to continue to serve students in need via a virtual format while attempting to adhere to best practices. During this time, the team at Indiana University began implementing trauma-informed multitiered systems of support (TI-MTSS), more…

Apni Shala (Hindi for Our School) is a nonprofit educational foundation located in Mumbai, India. It was set up in 2013 to promote mental health skill development in children in local elementary schools. The goals of the program include increasing emotional literacy of children within a culturally relevant framework and destigmatizing mental…