Restricted accessResearch articleFirst published online 2006-10
School Counselors and School Psychologists: Collaborating to Ensure Minority Students Receive Appropriate Consideration for Special Educational Programs
This article first discusses the challenges in providing psychoeducational services to the rapidly increasing minority populations in the United States, then describes problems encountered by educators. This is followed by a brief elaboration of the role and function of school counselors and school psychologists and how they can facilitate service delivery. Finally, suggestions are provided for meeting the mental health and educational needs of this large and growing population.
Get full access to this article
View all access options for this article.
References
1.
American Psychological Association. (2005). Archival description of school psychology (updated 12-5-2005). Retrieved January 17, 2006, from http://www.apa.org/crsppp/schpsych.html
2.
American School Counselor Association. (2005). The ASCA national model: A framework for school counseling programs (2nd ed.). Alexandria, VA: Author.
3.
BaronaA., & Santos de BaronaM. (1987). A model for the assessment of limited English proficient students referred for special education services. In FraddS. H. & TikunoffW. J. (Eds.), Bilingual education and bilingual special education (pp. 183–210). Boston: College Hill Press.
4.
BemakF., & ChungR. C. (2005). Advocacy as a critical role for urban school counselors: Working toward equity and social justice. Professional School Counseling, 8, 196–202.
5.
BorlandJ. H. (2004). Issues and practices in the identification and education of gifted students from under-represented groups (No. RM04186). Storrs, CT: University of Connecticut, National Research Center on the Gifted and Talented.
6.
BormanK. M., McNulty EitleT., MichaelsD., EitleD., ShircliffeB., LeeR., (2004). Accountability in a post-desegregation era: The continuing significance of racial segregation in Florida's schools. American Educational Research Journal, 41, 605–631.
7.
CappsR., FixM., OstJ., Reardon-AndersonJ., & PasselJ. S. (2004). The health and well-being of young children of immigrants.Washington, DC: Urban Institute.
8.
CohenL. (1988). Meeting the needs of gifted and talented minority language students: Issues and practices. National Clearinghouse for Bilingual Education, Occasional Papers in Bilingual Education. Retrieved January 8, 2006, from http://www.ncela.gwu.edu/pubs/classics/focus/08gifted.htm
9.
Committee on Minority Representation in Special Education, DonovanM. S., & CrossC. T. (Eds.). (2002). Minority students in special and gifted education.Washington, DC: National Academies Press.
10.
DinanK. A. (2005). Federal policies restrict immigrant children's access to key public benefits.New York: Columbia University, National Center for Children in Poverty.
11.
FordD. Y. (1994). The recruitment and retention of African American students in gifted education programs: Implications and recommendations (RBDM 9406). Storrs, CT: University of Connecticut, National Research Center on the Gifted and Talented.
12.
FordD. Y., & GranthamT. C. (2003). Providing access for culturally diverse gifted students: From deficit to dynamic thinking. Theory into Practice, 42, 217–225.
13.
FordD. F., & ThomasA. (1997). Underachievement among gifted minority students: Problems and promises (Digest No. E544). Reston, VA: ERIC Clearinghouse on Disabilities and Gifted Education, Council for Exceptional Children.
14.
FoxM. A., ConnollyB. A., & SnyderT. D. (2005). Youth indicators 2005: Trends in the well-being of American youth (NCES 2005–050). Washington, DC: U.S. Department of Education, National Center for Education Statistics.
15.
FraddS. H., BaronaA., & Santos de BaronaM. (1989). Implementing change and monitoring progress. In FraddS. H. & WeismantelM. J. (Eds.), Meeting the needs of culturally and linguistically different students: A handbook for educators (pp. 63–105). Boston: College-Hill Press.
16.
FrasierM. M., GarciaJ. H., & PassowA. H. (1995). A review of assessment issues in gifted education and their implications for identifying gifted minority students (No. RM95204). Storrs, CT: University of Connecticut, National Research Center on the Gifted and Talented.
17.
FrasierM. M., HunsakerS. L., LeeJ., FinleyV. S., FrankE., GarciaJ. H., (1995). Educators' perceptions of barriers to the identification of gifted children from economically disadvantaged and limited English proficient backgrounds (No. RM95216). Storrs, CT: University of Connecticut, National Research Center on the Gifted and Talented.
18.
FrasierM. M., & PassowA. H. (1994). Toward a new paradigm for identifying talent potential (No. RM94112). Storrs, CT: University of Connecticut, National Research Center on the Gifted and Talented.
19.
GandaraP., Maxwell-JollyJ., & DriscollA. (2005). Listening to teachers of English language learners: A survey of California teachers' challenges, experiences, and professional development needs.Santa Cruz, CA: Center for the Future of Teaching and Learning.
20.
GrayT., & FleischmanS. (2005). Successful strategies for English language learners. Educational Leadership, 62, 84–85.
21.
HartleyE. A. (1991). Through Navajo eyes: Examining differences in giftedness. Journal of Indian Education, 31, 53–64.
22.
HernandezD. J., & CharneyE. (Eds.). (1998). From generation to generation: The health and well-being of children in immigrant families. Washington, DC: National Academy Press.
23.
HollidayB. G., & HolmesA. L. (2003). A tale of challenge and change: A history and chronology of ethnic minorities in the United States. In BernalG. & TrimbleJ. E. (Eds.), Handbook of racial and ethnic minority psychology (pp. 15–64). Thousand Oaks, CA: Sage Publications, Inc.
24.
International Reading Association. (2004). The role of reading instruction in addressing the overrepresentation of minority children in special education in the United States: A position statement of the International Reading Association.Newark, DE: Author.
25.
LadnerM., & HammonsC. (2001). Special but unequal: Race and special education. In FinnC. E., RotherhamA. J., & HokansonC. R. (Eds.), Rethinking special education for a new century (pp. 85–110). Washington, DC: Progressive Policy Institute & Thomas B. Fordham Foundation.
26.
LivingstonA., & WirtJ. (2005). The condition of education 2005 in brief (NCES 2005-095). U.S. Department of Education, National Center for Educational Statistics. Washington, DC: U.S. Government Printing Office.
27.
LosenD., & OrfieldG. (2002). Racial inequity in special education.Cambridge, MA: Harvard University, Civil Rights Project.
28.
McEachernA. G., & BornotJ. (2001). Gifted students with learning disabilities: Implications and strategies for school counselors. Professional School Counseling, 5, 34–41.
29.
McLaughlinB. (1992). Myths and misconceptions about second language learning: What every teacher needs to unlearn.Santa Cruz, CA: University of California, National Center for Research on Cultural Diversity and Second Language Learning.
Nagayama HallG. C., & MarambaG. G. (2001). In search of cultural diversity: Recent literature in cross-cultural and ethnic minority psychology. Cultural Diversity & Ethnic Minority Psychology, 7, 12–26.
National Joint Committee on Learning Disabilities. (2005). Responsiveness to intervention and learning disabilities. Retrieved January 17, 2006, from http://www.ldanatl.org/pdf/rti2005.pdf
35.
NC Community Advocates for Revitalizing Education. (2005). The minority achievement gap: A continuum of crisis. Retrieved January 17, 2006, from http://www.nccare.org/action.htm
36.
NICHD Early Child Care Research. (2000). Network characteristics and quality of child care for toddlers and preschoolers. Applied Developmental Science, 4, 116–135.
37.
Office of Educational Research and Improvement. (1998). Talent and diversity: The emerging world of limited English proficient students in gifted education.Washington, DC: U.S. Department of Education.
38.
OrfieldG., & LeeC. (2005). Why segregation matters: Poverty and educational inequality.Cambridge, MA: Harvard University, Civil Rights Project.
39.
OrfieldG., LosenD., WaldJ., & SwansonC. B. (2004). Losing our future: How minority youth are being left behind by the graduation rate crisis. (Contributors: Advocates for Children of New York & Civil Society Institute.) Cambridge, MA: Harvard University, Civil Rights Project.
40.
PongS. (2003). Immigrant children's school performance (No. 03-07). University Park, PA: Pennsylvania State University, Population Research Institute.
41.
PuenteA. E. (2003). Hispanic ethnicity in psychology: A Cuban-American perspective. In FreedheimD. K. (Ed.), Handbook of psychology (pp. 483–508). Hoboken, NJ: John Wiley & Sons, Inc.
42.
RamirezR. R. (2004). We the people: Hispanics in the United States. Census 2000 Special Reports CENSR-18. Washington, DC: U.S. Census Bureau.
43.
RathbunA., WestJ., & GerminoHausken, E. (2004). From kindergarten through third grade: Children's beginning school experiences.Washington, DC: National Center for Education Statistics.
44.
RenzulliJ. S., & ParkS. (2002). Giftedness and high school dropouts: Personal, family, and school-related factors (No. RM02168). Storrs, CT: University of Connecticut, National Research Center on the Gifted and Talented.
45.
RodriguezY., & BaronaA. (2004, March). School psychology research and Hispanics: Trends, content, quality and availability. Paper presented at the Annual Convention of the National Association of School Psychologists, Dallas, TX.
46.
ShortD., & EchevarriaJ. (2005). Teacher skills to support English language learners. Educational Leadership, 62, 8–13.
47.
SkibaR. J., Poloni-StaudingerL., SimmonsA. B., Feggins-AzzizL. R., & ChungC. (2005). Unproven links: Can poverty explain ethnic disproportionality in special education?Journal of Special Education, 39, 130–144.
48.
StatonA. R., & GilliganT. D. (2003). Teaching school counselors and school psychologists to work collaboratively. Counselor Education and Supervision, 42, 162–176.
49.
StoneC. B., & ClarkM. A. (2001). School counselors and principals: Partners in support of academic achievement. NASSP Bulletin, 85, 46–67.
U.S. Department of Education, National Center for Education Statistics. (2002). The condition of education 2002 (NCES 2002–025). Washington, DC: U.S. Government Printing Office.
53.
WeinsteinC. S., Tomlinson-ClarkeS., & CurranM. (2004). Toward a conception of culturally responsive classroom management. Journal of Teacher Education, 55, 25–38.
54.
WinebrennerS. (2003). Teaching strategies for twice-exceptional students. Interventions in School and Clinic, 38, 131–137.