SCHOOL PSYCHOLOGY TASK FORCE 2000 MEETS

Task Force 2000 met for the first time on February 13 at the home of Steve Crane in Edmond. Task Force members present were: Sharon Brady, Ph.D., Lawton private practice school psychologist; Mary Ellen Jones, NCSP, Sapulpa Schools; Dr. Peggy Kerr, UCO School Psych Trainer: Karl Springer, Assoc. Supt. and Director of Special Services, Chickasha Schools; Darla Griffin, NCSP, Exec. Dir. of Special Ed. Section/Division of SDE, Norman; Joyce Lowrey, NASP Delegate/Adm.-School Psychologist, OKC Schools; Jodie Williams, School Psychologist and Coordinator of CSPD for the Special Ed. Section/Division-SDE, Burns Flat; Minna Hall, School Psychologist, OKC Western Heights Schools; Mike Lacy, Ph.D., School Psychologist, OYC-Norman Task Force Co-Chair; Debby Wheat, School Psychologist, Broken Arrow Schools and OSPA president-elect; and Steve Crane, NCSP, Task Force Chair, Edmond Public Schools.

The purpose of the Task Force is to study the condition of School Psychology in Oklahoma and generate ideas and positive solutions in advocating for and strengthen the profession of School Psychology in the state. The issue of examining entry level for School Psychology in Oklahoma will also be examined with discussion involving the absence of national standards for school psychometry and the presence of national standards for school psychology of which NCATE accreditation teams are looking as they review university training programs in school psychology.

This Task Force will also use OSPA's Strategic Plan GOAL 1 and three objectives as a guiding framework for addressing and expanding the three objectives given to the Task Force by OSPA President Linda Sanders. The 3 objectives are summarized as follows: 1) Data collection and analysis; 2) Solutions formulation and refinement; and 3) Policy formulation and promulgation. Organizational procedures for the Task Force were reviewed and assignments were taken by several of the Task Force members to gather data to present at the next Task Force meeting scheduled for March 20 in Norman.

Data to be collected will include the total number of school psychometrists and school psychologists currently practicing in the state of Oklahoma, as well as data from all the training institutions pertaining to their number of students being trained in school psychology and school psychometry. Presently, school psychology programs or training exists at Oklahoma State University, the University of Central Oklahoma, Northeastern Oklahoma State University and, East Central Oklahoma State University. The only Doctoral Program in School Psychology exists at OSU. Psychometry programs or training exists at the University of Central Oklahoma, Northeastern Oklahoma State University, East Central Oklahoma State University, Southwestern Oklahoma State University and Northwestern Oklahoma State University. Both the range of students in these various programs as well as the focus of the training is quite different. Some come from a program of school psychology/psychometry while others are merely a university where a student can take coursework to meet SDE certification requirements. These variable will also be analyzed. A commitment from the TASK FORCE was to initiate a School Psychology/Psychometry Trainer Summit Meeting in Edmond on April 22, 1999, the day before the OSPA Spring Conference at the Edmond Ramada Plaza Hotel on April 23. This summit of trainers will hopefully encourage a regular meeting or association of school psychology trainers in our state in hopes of advancing and advocating for BEST PRACTICE in school psychology practice and training.

Karl Springer, task force member and also member of the Oklahoma Directors of Special Services (ODSS) suggested that the Task Force and OSPA present a program on school psych services and the rationale for expanded roles of school psychologists at the ODSS summer conference in Aug. 1999. Concern from some of the task force members, who also served on the National Evaluation System Oklahoma Teacher Certification Test Review two weeks ago, indicated a need for Darla Griffin to follow up with leaders in the Oklahoma Legislature interested in the critique that the NES state exam for certification of school psychologist was extremely lacking in content, especially in the area of consultation, counseling, ethics & standards as well as behavioral intervention and social emotional assessment/interventions.

As you can see, there is much for this Task Force to address and therefore it is very likely that the work of the Task Force will carry through into the 1999-2000 school year as well as possibly a third year in order to make appropriate research-data based recommendations/resolutions to not only the OSPA Board but also to the Oklahoma Teacher Preparation Commission, SDE and the Regents for Higher Education in Oklahoma. Submitted by: Steve Crane, Task Force 2000 Chair and Mike Lacy, Co-Chair

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