Role change for school psychology: The challenge continues in the new millennium

Abstract

Calls for change in the role of school psychologists have appeared in the literature over a period of nearly 50 years. Evidence of change exists for some outstanding individual school psychologists and in a number of model programs, but not on a widespread basis. This paper discusses ideas for role change that have appeared rather consistently in the literature: an emphasis on indirect service, application of the science of psychology, an emphasis on prevention, systematic evaluation of services, involvement of various stakeholders, and consideration of diversity from a broad perspective. Hopefully the 21st century will bring more widespread implementation of these ideas because there is likely to be an even greater need for such services in the schools. © 2000 John Wiley & Sons, Inc.