To update certification requirements to align with current national standards in school psychology and create a re-specialization pathway to help address school psychologist shortages. The effect will allow more professionals to become eligible for ...

 

DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION

State Board of Education

RULE NO.:RULE TITLE:

6A-4.0311Specialization Requirements for Certification in School Psychologist (Grades PK-12) - Specialty Class Beginning July 1, 1992

PURPOSE AND EFFECT: To update certification requirements to align with current national standards in school psychology and create a re-specialization pathway to help address school psychologist shortages. The effect will allow more professionals to become eligible for certification as a school psychologist and potentially improve the ratio of school psychologists to students in Florida public schools.

SUMMARY: Certification requirements for school psychologists.

SUMMARY OF STATEMENT OF ESTIMATED REGULATORY COSTS AND LEGISLATIVE RATIFICATION:

The Agency has determined that this will not have an adverse impact on small business or likely increase directly or indirectly regulatory costs in excess of $200,000 in the aggregate within one year after the implementation of the rule. A SERC has not been prepared by the Agency.

The Agency has determined that the proposed rule is not expected to require legislative ratification based on the statement of estimated regulatory costs or if no SERC is required, the information expressly relied upon and described herein: Based upon the nature of the changes, this proposed rule is not expected to have any adverse impact on economic growth, business competitiveness or any other factors listed in s. 120.541(2)(a), F.S., and will not require legislative ratification. No increase in regulatory costs are anticipated as a result of the rule changes.

Any person who wishes to provide information regarding a statement of estimated regulatory costs, or provide a proposal for a lower cost regulatory alternative must do so in writing within 21 days of this notice.

RULEMAKING AUTHORITY: 1001.02, 1012.55, 1012.56, F.S.

LAW IMPLEMENTED: 1012.54, 1012.55, 1012.56, F.S.

A HEARING WILL BE HELD AT THE DATE, TIME AND PLACE SHOWN BELOW:

DATE AND TIME: September 23, 2020, 9:00 a.m.

PLACE: Florida Holocaust Museum, 55 5th St S., Saint Petersburg, FL 33701.

THE PERSON TO BE CONTACTED REGARDING THE PROPOSED RULE IS: Melissa Ramsey, Vice Chancellor, Division of Public Schools, 325 West Gaines Street, Tallahassee, FL 32399-0400, 850-245-0475.

 

THE FULL TEXT OF THE PROPOSED RULE IS:

 

6A-4.0311 Specialization Requirements for Certification in School Psychology Psychologist (Grades PK-12) – Specialty Class Beginning July 1, 1992.

(1) Plan One. A doctorate degree with a specialization in school psychology which includes a twelve-hundred (1200-hour), supervised internship with at least six-hundred (600) hours completed in an elementary or secondary school setting; A specialist’s or higher degree with a major in school psychology at the specialist’s or higher degree level which includes six (6) semester hours of graduate credit in a year-long supervised school psychology internship in an elementary or secondary school; or

(2) Plan Two. A degree from a specialist-level program of study (e.g., EdS, PsyS, CAGS, Master’s) from a National Association of School Psychologists (NASP) or American Psychological Association (APA) accredited or approved graduate training program in school psychology that includes the following: A master’s or higher degree and completion of a graduate program in school psychology which includes sixty (60) semester hours of graduate credit in school psychology to include the areas specified below:

(a) A minimum of sixty (60) semester hours of graduate credit in school psychology; Credit in each of the following six core competency areas:

1. Psychological foundations;

2. Educational foundations;

3. Psychoeducational assessment;

4. Interventions and specialized techniques;

5. Statistics, measurement, and research design; and,

6. Professional school psychology.

(b) Completion of a minumum of three (3) semester hours of supervised and sequenced practica experiences prior to the internship in paragraph (2)(c); Three (3) semester hours in a supervised practicum in school psychology in addition to the internship in paragraph (2)(c) of this rule; and,

(c) Completion of a twelve-hundred (1200) hour, supervised internship with at least six-hundred (600) hours completed in an elementary or secondary school setting. No more than six (6) hours of internship credit may be applied to the sixty (60) semester hour requirement in paragraph (2)(a); Six (6) semester hours in a year-long supervised school psychology internship in an elementary or secondary school. No more than twelve (12) semester hours of credit in the internship shall be accepted; or

(3) Plan Three. A valid credential as a Nationally Certified School Psychologist issued by the National Association of School Psychologists (NASP); A master’s or higher degree with completion of a graduate program in school psychology and three (3) years of full-time experience as a school psychologist in an elementary or secondary school. The experience shall be acceptable provided the applicant held a valid full-time school psychologist certificate issued by the state where the experience was gained; or

(4) Plan Four. A doctorate degree or a degree from a specialist-level program of study in clinical psychology or counseling psychology with a non-degree respecialization in school psychology. Respecialization must include: A master’s or higher degree with sixty (60) semester hours of graduate credit in school psychology to include the areas specified below:

(a) Completion of an individualized plan of study and supervised field experiences in a NASP-approved graduate preparation program in Florida that grants recognition for previously completed, relevant coursework and field expeiences, and identifies additional graduate courses and supervised experiences consistent with the NASP Graduate Preparation Standards. A minimum of fifteen (15) credits must be completed in the school psychology training program that documents eligibility for non-degree certification. Twelve (12) semester hours in psychological foundations. Courses in this area include: abnormal psychology, biological bases of behavior, cultural diversity, child psychology, adolescent psychology, psychology of exceptional students, human learning, personality, and social bases of behavior;

(b) Completion of a twelve-hundred (1200) hour, supervised internship with six-hundred (600) hours of a supervised school psychology internship completed in an elementary or secondary school setting. Supervised internships previously completed as part of the health services psychology graduate training program may meet up to six-hundred (600) hours of the school psychology internship requirement.  Six (6) semester hours in educational foundations. Courses in this area include: education of exceptional learners, instructional and remedial techniques, and organization and operation of schools;

(c) Documentation from the school psychology graduate training program that the candidate demonstrates the competencies of a professional school psychologist across the NASP Domains of Professional Practice and meets the criteria for non-degree certification as a school psychologist. Nine (9) semester hours in psychoeducational assessment to include three (3) semester hours in individual intellectual assessment. Courses in this area include individual intellectual assessment, psychoeducational assessment, and personality or behavior assessment;

(d) Nine (9) semester hours in interventions and specialized techniques. Courses in this area include consultation, counseling, applied behavioral analysis, behavior management, and prescriptive intervention;

(e) Six (6) semester hours in statistics, measurement, and research design. Courses in this area include: statistics, testing and measurement, research design, and program evaluation;

(f) Three (3) semester hours in professional school psychology. Courses in this area include: history and foundations of school psychology, legal and ethical issues, professional issues affecting school psychologists, and rules and functions of the school psychologist;

(g) Three (3) semester hours in a supervised practicum in school psychology in addition to the internship in paragraph (4)(h) of this rule. Three (3) years of full-time experience as a school psychologist in an elementary or secondary school will satisfy the supervised practicum requirement. The experience shall be acceptable provided the applicant held a valid full-time school psychologist certificate issued by the state where the experience was gained; and,

(h) Six (6) semester hours in a year-long supervised school psychology internship in an elementary or secondary school. The internship shall total at least twelve hundred (1200) clock hours with at least six hundred (600) clock hours in an elementary or secondary school. The internship shall be completed at an institution which offers a master’s or higher degree major in school psychology. No more than twelve semester hours of credit in the internship shall be accepted. Three (3) years of full-time experience as a school psychologist as described in paragraph (4)(g) of this rule will satisfy the internship requirement; or

(5) Plan Five. A valid certificate as a Nationally Certified School Psychologist issued by the National School Psychology Certification System.

Rulemaking Authority 1001.02, 1012.55, 1012.56 FS. Law Implemented 1012.54, 1012.55, 1012.56 FS. History–New 7-1-92,

 

NAME OF PERSON ORIGINATING PROPOSED RULE: Melissa Ramsey, Vice Chancellor, Division of Public Schools.

NAME OF AGENCY HEAD WHO APPROVED THE PROPOSED RULE: Richard Corcoran, Commissioner, Department of Education.

DATE PROPOSED RULE APPROVED BY AGENCY HEAD: August 04, 2020

DATE NOTICE OF PROPOSED RULE DEVELOPMENT PUBLISHED IN FAR: June 8, 2020