National Louis University - School Psychology Program

Professional School Psychology Practice Within a Multi-Tier System of Services and Supports (MTSS)

Schools across the country are changing how they serve all students, employing evidence-based practices in an early intervening services approach where schools provide increasingly intensive interventions for students aligned with need or (MTSS). This approach is also called Response to Intervention (RtI). Schools are no longer willing to allow await to failapproach where some children fall farther behind academically or socially. School psychologists are active players in this educational reform, serving as leaders and supporting change. NLU School Psychology students learn about MTSS from the first course and engage in efforts to critique evidence and contribute themselves to answering important questions about what works.

OUR STRANDS OF PRACTICE

Our training program content is organized into 5 strands, 3 of which are explicitly organized around evidence-based practices:

1. 1. Professional School Psychology Practice Within a Multi-Tier System of Services and Supports

1. 2. Functional Assessment

1. 3. Interventions for Academics

1. 4. Interventions for Behavior and Social Emotional Learning, Including Families

1. 5. Instructional and Behavioral Consultation, and Supervision to Make It All Work

About the NLU School Psychology Program

The NLU School Psychology Program offers two terminal degrees that enable persons to be eligible to practice as school psychologists in Illinois through the 73 Certification and also qualify as a Nationally Certified School Psychologist (NCSP) by NASP. Most students historically enter with the intention of earning the Educational Specialists Degree (Ed.S). A few of these Ed.S. students immediately go on to the Doctoral Degree (Ed.D.). Historically, a few persons already with other graduate degrees enter the program each year to earn the Ed.D. In 2010-2011, we modified our curriculum and program activities consistent with the Figure above to create a comprehensive graduate program. In this approach, students can enter or exist a variety of degree programs. Our goal is to admit qualified students who are interested in the doctoral degree early or even immediately into that program. Moving from one degree to another would be seamless, ending in the terminal Ed.D. degree. This approach means a focussed 3 years of coursework, a single, full-year internship and a practical, high quality dissertation. An Ed.S. may be earned along the way, but would not be required. Our goal is that at least 50% of persons entering the School Psychology Program will continue through the Doctoral Degree.

For those students not interested in the Ed.D., they may exit the program with the Ed.S., the minimum standard of practice recognized by the National Association of School Psychology Association (NASP).

In addition, the NLU School Psychology Program is committed to providing a Certification Only option for practicing psychologists or persons with graduate degrees in related fields who are interested only in completing requirements for ISBE’s Type 73 certification.

Nearly all students are full-time, although part-time completion is an option.