School psychologists are essential for implementing academic interventions that help students achieve their best in the classroom. Unfortunately, the U.S. is facing a severe shortage of school psychologists. There’s a critical need for people with a strong school psychology education to fill these roles.
At The Chicago School, our School Psychology programs, including the Ed.S. School Psychology and Psy.D. School Psychology degrees, are designed to prepare students to become key contributors in educational settings. Our graduates are trained in psychology, child development, and education to identify and support students facing a range of developmental and mental health challenges.
An education in school psychology from The Chicago School can equip you with the skills school psychologists need to enhance the well-being of students and improve educational environments, thus allowing teachers to focus more on teaching and less on managing classroom challenges.
What Do School Psychologists Do?
School psychologists use a variety of tools in the classroom to support the academic achievement and mental well-being of students. These tools may include such techniques as academic interventions, functional behavioral assessments, and crisis interventions.
Academic Interventions
One role of school psychologists is to offer academic interventions, strategies based on a student’s learning compared to the grade-level standard. The school psychologist measures and monitors a given student’s behavior and sets goals to improve the student’s academic success through individualized instruction.
The most common examples of academic intervention include one-on-one tutoring, small group tutoring, and teacher feedback. Each method focuses on individualized teaching and learning, higher engagement levels, and clear communication of expectations.
Functional Behavioral Assessment
A Functional Behavior Assessment (FBA) is the process by which a school psychologist collects information about behavior from specific students. This could be in the form of academic, social, or emotional struggles. An FBA may lead to a Behavior Intervention Plan (BIP) that advises teachers and staff of the student’s behavior goals and the strategies to help achieve them.
Crisis Interventions
Crisis intervention is an approach focused on improving the well-being of the school and its community after a crisis experience. For example, a crisis could be a natural disaster or violent crime. School psychologists work to prevent or mitigate any long-term trauma from these events by tailoring crisis response strategies to those impacted by the event.
Are School Psychologists in Demand?
Yes, school psychologists are in high demand. There is a severe school psychologist shortage in the United States, specifically in rural areas and throughout the South. The National Association of School Psychologists recommended ratio of students to school psychologists is 500 to 1, but in the 2021-2022 academic year, the national average was 1,119 to 1, with some states approaching 5,000 to 1.
In the rural parts of Colorado, the number of students to psychologist ratio was 19,811 to 1 whereas the state average was 942 to 1. This demonstrates the large gap of school psychologists available to students in rural areas compared to more populated areas.
The difference between the NASP recommended ratio and the actual ratio has grown since the COVID-19 pandemic, which led to widespread school closures. This in conjunction with increased stress and trauma, social isolation, and anxiety, has led to lingering effects on student mental health. However, the U.S. Department of Education’s School-Based Mental Health Services Grant Program provided federal funding to address these mental health needs. This grant went into effect in the fall of 2022. The results are inconclusive at the time of this article’s publication.
The Complex Mental Health Needs of Students
Students from all backgrounds have various and complex mental health needs, increasing the demand for school psychologists. Whether a given mental health issue is genetic or environmentally triggered by Adverse Childhood Experiences (ACEs) such as abuse, neglect, violence, or financial stress, there has been a long-term increase in adolescents suffering both mentally and academically.
The demand for well-educated school psychologists has become only more pronounced as the mental health needs of students grow. School psychologists are not only tasked with managing immediate behavioral or academic issues but also with developing strategies to support students affected by ongoing or traumatic stress. By closely monitoring these students and working with teachers and parents, school psychologists help mitigate the effects of these challenges, ensuring that all students have the support they need to succeed academically and socially.
What Is the Average School Psychologist’s Salary?
According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, the average school psychologist’s salary in the U.S. is $84,940. While salaries fluctuate depending on geographic location, experience, additional skills, and certifications employees may have, a normal salary distribution falls between $70,250 and $107,400.*
*Data collected in 2024.
Start Your Career in School Psychology
Are you looking to pursue a career as a school psychologist? School psychologists foster student well-being and academic success through individualized prevention and management strategies. Given the increasing prevalence of mental health challenges among students and the shortage of professionals in this field, there’s a growing demand for qualified school psychologists.
Start with a strong educational foundation with a School Psychology degree from The Chicago School. The Ed.S. School Psychology and Psy.D. School Psychology degrees both work to equip future graduates with knowledge of psychology, child development, and education to help students succeed. Unsure what the difference is between an Ed.D. and Psy.D. in School Psychology and what careers they prepare you for? Read “What Is the Difference Between an Ed.S. and a Psy.D. in School Psychology?”