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<regulation prefix="Regulation" num=".04" citation="COMAR 13A.05.05.04" title_num="13A" subtitle_num="05" chapter_num="05" heading="School Psychology Program.">
  <paragraph num="A.">
    <text>The School Psychology Program is a comprehensive and integrated continuum of services and activities regarding the delivery of school psychological services.  The goal of the program is to provide direct educational, behavioral, and mental health services for children and youth, as well as work with families, school administrators, educators, and other professionals to create supportive learning and social environments for all students.</text>
  </paragraph>
  <paragraph num="B.">
    <text>To meet a student’s needs, the School Psychology Program shall provide services and interventions across the following domains of practice:</text>
    <paragraph num="(1)">
      <text>Data-based decision making and accountability that use varied models and methods of assessment and data collection to:</text>
      <paragraph num="(a)">
        <text>Identify strengths and needs;</text>
      </paragraph>
      <paragraph num="(b)">
        <text>Develop effective services and programs; and</text>
      </paragraph>
      <paragraph num="(c)">
        <text>Measure progress and outcomes;</text>
      </paragraph>
    </paragraph>
    <paragraph num="(2)">
      <text>Consultation and collaboration that use varied models and strategies of consultation and communication applicable to individuals, families, groups, and systems, and methods to promote effective implementation of services;</text>
    </paragraph>
    <paragraph num="(3)">
      <text>To develop cognitive and academic strengths, interventions and instructional support that apply knowledge of biological, cultural, and social influences to:</text>
      <paragraph num="(a)">
        <text>Academic skills;</text>
      </paragraph>
      <paragraph num="(b)">
        <text>Human learning;</text>
      </paragraph>
      <paragraph num="(c)">
        <text>Cognitive and developmental processes; and</text>
      </paragraph>
      <paragraph num="(d)">
        <text>Evidence-based curricula and instructional strategies;</text>
      </paragraph>
    </paragraph>
    <paragraph num="(4)">
      <text>To develop social and life skills, interventions and mental health services that use:</text>
      <paragraph num="(a)">
        <text>Knowledge of biological, cultural, developmental, and social influences on behavior and mental health;</text>
      </paragraph>
      <paragraph num="(b)">
        <text>Behavioral and emotional impacts on learning and life skills; and</text>
      </paragraph>
      <paragraph num="(c)">
        <text>Evidence-based strategies to promote social/emotional functioning and mental health;</text>
      </paragraph>
    </paragraph>
    <paragraph num="(5)">
      <text>Schoolwide practices to promote learning and mental health that use:</text>
      <paragraph num="(a)">
        <text>School and school system structure, organization, and theory;</text>
      </paragraph>
      <paragraph num="(b)">
        <text>General and special education;</text>
      </paragraph>
      <paragraph num="(c)">
        <text>Technology resources; and</text>
      </paragraph>
      <paragraph num="(d)">
        <text>Evidence-based school practices that promote learning and mental health;</text>
      </paragraph>
    </paragraph>
    <paragraph num="(6)">
      <text>Preventive and responsive services that use:</text>
      <paragraph num="(a)">
        <text>Principles and research related to resilience and risk factors in learning and mental health;</text>
      </paragraph>
      <paragraph num="(b)">
        <text>Services in schools and communities to support multi-tiered prevention; and</text>
      </paragraph>
      <paragraph num="(c)">
        <text>Evidence-based strategies for effective crisis response;</text>
      </paragraph>
    </paragraph>
    <paragraph num="(7)">
      <text>Family-school collaboration services that use:</text>
      <paragraph num="(a)">
        <text>Principles and research related to family systems, strengths, needs, and culture;</text>
      </paragraph>
      <paragraph num="(b)">
        <text>Evidence-based strategies to support family influences on children’s learning and mental health; and</text>
      </paragraph>
      <paragraph num="(c)">
        <text>Strategies to develop collaboration between families and schools;</text>
      </paragraph>
    </paragraph>
    <paragraph num="(8)">
      <text>Development and learning to enhance services and address potential influences related to diversity by using:</text>
      <paragraph num="(a)">
        <text>Individual differences, abilities, disabilities, and other diverse student characteristics;</text>
      </paragraph>
      <paragraph num="(b)">
        <text>Principles and research related to diversity factors for children, families, and schools, including factors related to culture, context, and individual and role differences; and</text>
      </paragraph>
      <paragraph num="(c)">
        <text>Evidence-based strategies;</text>
      </paragraph>
    </paragraph>
    <paragraph num="(9)">
      <text>Research and program evaluation that use research design, statistics, measurement, and varied data collection and analysis techniques and program evaluation sufficient for understanding research and interpreting data in applied settings; and</text>
    </paragraph>
    <paragraph num="(10)">
      <text>Legal, ethical, and professional practice that use:</text>
      <paragraph num="(a)">
        <text>History and foundations of school psychology;</text>
      </paragraph>
      <paragraph num="(b)">
        <text>Multiple service models and methods;</text>
      </paragraph>
      <paragraph num="(c)">
        <text>Ethical, legal, and professional standards; and</text>
      </paragraph>
      <paragraph num="(d)">
        <text>Other factors related to professional identity and effective practice of school psychology.</text>
      </paragraph>
    </paragraph>
  </paragraph>
  <paragraph num="C.">
    <text>The School Psychology Program shall encompass the following goals to meet a student’s needs:</text>
    <paragraph num="(1)">
      <text>Improve academic engagement and achievement by working with educators and families to:</text>
      <paragraph num="(a)">
        <text>Identify and mitigate barriers to learning, such as disabilities, mental or physical health problems, or social, cultural, language, or family issues;</text>
      </paragraph>
      <paragraph num="(b)">
        <text>Implement appropriate academic interventions by monitoring the effectiveness of academic interventions, developing student organizational skills, and promoting the use of learning strategies; and</text>
      </paragraph>
      <paragraph num="(c)">
        <text>Implement appropriate social/emotional and behavioral strategies such as those that are designed to improve attention, strengthen motivation, and promote student problem solving;</text>
      </paragraph>
    </paragraph>
    <paragraph num="(2)">
      <text>Facilitate effective instruction that meets the individual needs of diverse learners by consulting with educators to:</text>
      <paragraph num="(a)">
        <text>Individualize instructions;</text>
      </paragraph>
      <paragraph num="(b)">
        <text>Manage classroom behavior;</text>
      </paragraph>
      <paragraph num="(c)">
        <text>Monitor student progress; and</text>
      </paragraph>
      <paragraph num="(d)">
        <text>Evaluate classroom data;</text>
      </paragraph>
    </paragraph>
    <paragraph num="(3)">
      <text>Support positive behavior and socially successful students by providing services that promote a student’s:</text>
      <paragraph num="(a)">
        <text>Communication skills;</text>
      </paragraph>
      <paragraph num="(b)">
        <text>Social skills;</text>
      </paragraph>
      <paragraph num="(c)">
        <text>Problem-solving skills;</text>
      </paragraph>
      <paragraph num="(d)">
        <text>Anger management skills;</text>
      </paragraph>
      <paragraph num="(e)">
        <text>Conflict resolution skills;</text>
      </paragraph>
      <paragraph num="(f)">
        <text>Self-regulation;</text>
      </paragraph>
      <paragraph num="(g)">
        <text>Self-determination;</text>
      </paragraph>
      <paragraph num="(h)">
        <text>Resilience; and</text>
      </paragraph>
      <paragraph num="(i)">
        <text>Optimism;</text>
      </paragraph>
    </paragraph>
    <paragraph num="(4)">
      <text>Support positive behavior and socially successful students by consulting with teachers and administrators on:</text>
      <paragraph num="(a)">
        <text>Classroom strategies;</text>
      </paragraph>
      <paragraph num="(b)">
        <text>Programs promoting positive peer relationships and social problem solving;</text>
      </paragraph>
      <paragraph num="(c)">
        <text>Schoolwide positive behavior interventions and supports;</text>
      </paragraph>
      <paragraph num="(d)">
        <text>Use of effective discipline policies and practices; and</text>
      </paragraph>
      <paragraph num="(e)">
        <text>Programs to promote student wellness and reduce risk-taking;</text>
      </paragraph>
    </paragraph>
    <paragraph num="(5)">
      <text>Support diverse learners by working with teachers and other school staff to:</text>
      <paragraph num="(a)">
        <text>Assess learning and behavior needs and distinguish between issues related to family, culture, or language and a learning style or disability;</text>
      </paragraph>
      <paragraph num="(b)">
        <text>Plan appropriate individualized education programs for students with disabilities;</text>
      </paragraph>
      <paragraph num="(c)">
        <text>Modify and adapt curricula and instruction;</text>
      </paragraph>
      <paragraph num="(d)">
        <text>Adjust classroom facilities and routines to promote greater student engagement;</text>
      </paragraph>
      <paragraph num="(e)">
        <text>Promote positive relationships among all students;</text>
      </paragraph>
      <paragraph num="(f)">
        <text>Monitor and effectively communicate with parents about student progress; and</text>
      </paragraph>
      <paragraph num="(g)">
        <text>Coordinate links to community services;</text>
      </paragraph>
    </paragraph>
    <paragraph num="(6)">
      <text>Create safe, positive school climates by providing expertise to school leadership in:</text>
      <paragraph num="(a)">
        <text>Data collection and analysis;</text>
      </paragraph>
      <paragraph num="(b)">
        <text>Social/emotional learning;</text>
      </paragraph>
      <paragraph num="(c)">
        <text>Child development and behavior;</text>
      </paragraph>
      <paragraph num="(d)">
        <text>Violence prevention;</text>
      </paragraph>
      <paragraph num="(e)">
        <text>Crisis and trauma prevention and response; and</text>
      </paragraph>
      <paragraph num="(f)">
        <text>School-family-community collaboration;</text>
      </paragraph>
    </paragraph>
    <paragraph num="(7)">
      <text>Strengthen school-family-community partnerships by:</text>
      <paragraph num="(a)">
        <text>Working with teachers and other school staff to enhance their understanding and acceptance of diverse cultures and backgrounds and to promote culturally responsive schools; and</text>
      </paragraph>
      <paragraph num="(b)">
        <text>Providing specific support to help families:</text>
        <paragraph num="(i)">
          <text>Understand and support their child’s learning and mental health needs;</text>
        </paragraph>
        <paragraph num="(ii)">
          <text>Navigate the special education process;</text>
        </paragraph>
        <paragraph num="(iii)">
          <text>Connect with community service providers when necessary;</text>
        </paragraph>
        <paragraph num="(iv)">
          <text>Engage effectively with teachers and other school staff; and</text>
        </paragraph>
        <paragraph num="(v)">
          <text>Reinforce the school-family-community partnership; and</text>
        </paragraph>
      </paragraph>
    </paragraph>
    <paragraph num="(8)">
      <text>Improve assessment and accountability by helping school leaders and teachers to:</text>
      <paragraph num="(a)">
        <text>Generate and interpret student outcome data; and</text>
      </paragraph>
      <paragraph num="(b)">
        <text>Make decisions regarding programs and interventions in the district, building, classroom, and individual student levels.</text>
      </paragraph>
    </paragraph>
  </paragraph>
</regulation>