Going Digital to Address the School Psychologist Shortage

Area of Science:

• Psychology
• Education Technology

Background:

• Shortage of school psychologists, particularly in rural areas, necessitates innovative training models.
• Distance education (DE) methods are increasingly adopted in higher education, including specialized fields like school psychology.
• Existing negative perceptions of DE among students and faculty contrast with its growing implementation.

Purpose of the Study:

• To provide an overview of current distance education programs in school psychology.
• To review existing research on the effectiveness and implementation of DE in school psychology.
• To present a case study of a DE program at Stephen F. Austin State University and discuss common challenges and solutions.

Main Methods:

• Literature review of existing DE programs and research specific to school psychology.
• Historical account of the development of a DE option within a school psychology program.
• Identification and discussion of common issues encountered in DE delivery and proposed solutions.

Main Results:

• The field of school psychology is seeing an expansion of DE programs despite initial reservations.
• A growing body of research, though perhaps limited, exists on DE in school psychology.
• Stephen F. Austin State University has implemented a DE option, providing insights into practical application.

Conclusions:

• Distance education presents a viable solution to address the shortage of school psychologists.
• Addressing faculty and student concerns regarding DE quality and engagement is crucial for successful implementation.
• Further research and sharing of best practices are needed to optimize DE in school psychology training.