Special Education Operating Guidelines

Psychological services as defined by IDEA include some services not defined strictly as psychological in nature and therefore can be appropriately provided by other trained personnel including behavior specialists, school social workers, diagnostic specialists, interns and counselors. These would include gathering information about student behavior, behavioral program planning, educational testing, and developing behavioral intervention strategies.

In Texas, certain services are defined by the Texas State Board of Examiners of Psychologists (TSBEP) as 'psychological services' in the schools and therefore can only be provided by those individuals licensed as an LSSP by the TSBEP. Specialist in School Psychology Interns supervised by an LSSP may also provide psychological services.

An ARD/IEP committee is responsible for determining the appropriateness of psychological services as a related service based on the individual educational needs of a student, regardless of the disability categories, and with the recommendations and expertise provided by the professionals involved in assessing these services. Parents are invited to participate in the ARD/IEP committee decision-making process. Related services are provided to an eligible student with a disability at no cost to the parent or guardian.

What We Do

• The referral for counseling or psychological services evaluation is initiated by the ARD/IEP Committee.
• The need for counseling or psychological services is examined in an evaluation. While this is often addressed in psychological evaluation once a student is already receiving special education services, an evaluation for counseling may be necessary to examine difficulties as they arise.
• If eligible for services, an IEP is developed to specify the goals/objectives, projected begin and end date, amount, frequency, duration, and location of the services.
• Progress reports explaining the student's progress toward the annual IEP goals will be provided to parents, teachers, and relevant school personnel on a regular basis.
• Any changes in the amount of services listed in the IEP must be made at an ARD/IEP meeting.
• Counseling or psychological services providers should be present at an ARD/IEP meeting when the need for the services is discussed or when the progress of the services is reviewed. Service providers may submit their findings in writing if the IEP Committee agrees to excuse them from the meeting.
• While a formal evaluation can be performed, it is not required to dismiss a student from counseling or psychological services as a related service however data for dismissal should be reviewed.
• Dismissal from counseling or psychological services should be based on data from a variety of sources, including teacher observations, parent input, mastery of IEP goals and objectives, performance on statewide assessments, disciplinary referrals, and any other relevant data.
• The decision to dismiss from a related service is determined by the ARD Committee and supporting documentation is included in the student's IEP document.

Counseling and Psychological Services as a Related Service in the IEP

When an ARD/IEP Committee determines the need for counseling or psychological services to support the student's special education program, a specially designed counseling or psychological services program is included as part of the student's IEP. The supports and services provided are documented on IEPs and indicated as part of the progress reporting system to parents and adult students. The goals for services:

• focus on school-related issues
• are behavior and/or learning based
• are minimally intrusive
• emphasize practical and immediate application rather than development of insight
• are necessary in order to make educational and/or behavioral progress and access the student's IEP.

Counseling Services may be provided by:

• 
  Licensed Specialists in School Psychology (LSSPs)
• Professional School Counselors
• Social Workers
• Other qualified professionals such as interns under the supervision of a certified or licensed professional.

Psychological Services may be provided by:

In Texas, certain services are defined by the Texas State Board of Examiners of Psychologists (TSBEP) as 'psychological services' and therefore can only be provided by those individuals licensed as an LSSP by the TSBEP. Specialist in School Psychology Interns supervised by an LSSP may also provide psychological services.

Service Delivery

• Counseling is a complex helping process in which a trusting and confidential working relationship is established.
• Counselors interact with students individually or in small groups.
• The focus is on problem-solving, decision-making, and discovering personal meaning related to learning and development.

• Psychological services provided in KISD may include Ongoing Consultation
  • There are three levels: Monitoring, Generalization, Intervention
  • These are direct, indirect, or a combination;
  • Assigned according to assessment of intensity of need

  Psychological services providers consult and collaborate with parents, school personnel, medical professionals, and other professional service providers to develop and implement strategies to help students succeed.

  The focus is on assisting the school staff, students, and parents/family to solve problems related to learning and student behavior.

  Resources