Demographic Characteristics and Professional Practices in School Psychology

Abstract

The availability of a national database that allows for analyses of the demographic characteristics and the professional practices of school psychologists is essential to both individuals and organizations in their efforts to represent and to advance the field. In response to this need, a survey was mailed to 20% of all Regular members of the National Association of School Psychologists randomly selected by state. The survey asked for responses to 31 items relating to a range of demographic characteristics (e.g., age, gender, ethnicity, salary, highest degree earned, credentialing), employment settings (e.g., urban/suburban/rural, ratio of students to school psychologists, funding source), and professional practices (e.g., frequency and/or numbers of students served through different service functions). Responses from 1,922 school psychologists were analyzed. The results of those analyses are presented and the implications for the field are discussed.