APA Center for Psychology in Schools and Education
2008 Initiatives

The Center for Psychology in Schools and Education (CPSE), housed in the American Psychological Association’s Education Directorate, promotes the application of psychological science to practice, programs, and policies for schools and education. The following activities illustrate areas in which CPSE is working:

Collaboration among Psychologists

The Coalition for Psychology in Schools and Education
If you are interested in learning more about the Coalition for Psychology in Schools and Education please visit http://www.apa.org/ed/cpse/interdivision.html and/or e-mail Maya Bassford, JD.

Current Coalition Activities:

Professional Development - Practical Classroom Management Online Module
At their November 2006 meeting, BEA recommended that the Board of Directors approve funds to support the development of an Online Academy professional development module that will focus on instructional strategies for Pre-K-12 teachers. In response, “Practical Classroom Management: Class-wide and Individual Strategies” and “Interventions for Classroom Disruption: Addressing Emotional and Behavioral Problems in the Classroom” modules are being developed by Dr. Russell Skiba and Dr. Jack Cummings from Indiana University.

No Child Left Behind
The Coalition is also advancing ways for psychologists to help implement evidence-based practices under the Reauthorization of the No Child Left Behind Act (NCLB). The Coalition continues to play a key role in applying psychological research that relates to NCLB's provisions on assessment, child and youth development, and teaching and learning, This includes the expansion and improvement of school-based mental health services and teacher quality.

Catalyst
CPSE is supported by a grant from the Camille and Henry Dreyfus Foundation to study and explore talent development in chemical science and the arts. Catalyst is a year-long mentoring program, beginning with the summit, which is designed to provide support for students with a demonstrated interest in Chemistry by assembling them into 4 groups of 3 Scholars led by an eminent researcher in the field (Masters) and assisted by graduate students and post docs who will be the next generation’s stars (Associates).

For more information about Catalyst please go to: http://www.apa.org/ed/catalyst_home.html.

Current Task Forces

Violence against Teachers Task Force During a discussion of activities conducted by the Center for Psychology in Schools and Education’s (CPSE) at the March 2007 BEA meeting, BEA members identified violence against teachers as an important issue that CPSE could address.

In response, CPSE is forming a Task Force to create a resource aimed at helping K-12 teachers cope with and prevent the occurrence and threat of violent incidents in their classrooms. The focus of the Task Force will be to gather and translate psychological science on this topic into an accessible resource for teachers. This resource will also serve as a research-based foundation to inform education policy with regard to school management, parent and community involvement, classroom climate, and teaching and learning.

The first task force meeting will take place in September 2008. Members of the Task Force have expertise in one or more of the following areas:

(1) Preventing classroom violence,
(2) Coping with the occurrence and threat of violent incidents in schools, and
(3) Translating psychological science into accessible ideas and materials for teachers.

Mathematics and Science Presidential Task Force
The Task Force convened for the final time on September 14 – 16 2007. Sharon Brehm’s Presidential Task Force on Mathematics and Science Education was composed of outstanding scholars from APA and SRCD with expertise in various aspects of teaching and learning mathematics and science. The goals of the task force include articulating the importance of psychology in improving mathematics and science education, and emphasizing the role of psychology in contributing to public policy affecting mathematics and science education. The Task Force members have outlined a report that they envision submitting for publication to the American Psychologist. They will also use this report as the basis for spin-off articles and products ranging from briefing sheets to a column in the Chronicle of Higher Education or an Op-Ed in the New York Times.

Updated 05.08.08