Education

How can you combat the challenges of equitable identification with English Language Learners?

The formal identification of high ability students with limited English language proficiency has been an ongoing challenge with respect to the goals of equity. The Naglieri General Ability Tests (Naglieri, Brulles, & Landsdowne, 2021) have been developed to combat these challenges in testing and provide a more equitable solution. The...

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Providing equal and appropriate mental health care to marginalized groups

National Minority Mental Health Awareness Month is observed each July, bringing awareness to the unique struggles that racial and ethnic minority communities face regarding mental illness in the United States. The COVID-19 pandemic negatively affected many people's mental health and created new barriers for people who experience mental illness and...

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Equitable assessment of gifted students using the Naglieri General Ability Tests

Jack A. Naglieri, Ph.D. is an Emeritus Professor of Psychology at George Mason University and Senior Research Scientist at the Devereux Center for Resilient Children. Dr. Naglieri has focused his efforts on theoretical and practical issues concerning equitable assessment of intelligence, diagnosis of learning disabilities, academic interventions, and social emotional...

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A review of the DSM-5-TR revisions and impact on MHS assessments

The Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM) contains descriptions of mental disorders and other psychiatric conditions across the lifespan. The manual was developed for clinical, public health, and research purposes, and the DSM is updated regularly according to new literature and scientific advances. The Diagnostic and Statistical Manual...

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Build A Model For Gifted Services That Promotes Diversity And Inclusion

The interview below has been edited for length and clarity. First, I’d like to get a little bit of background on the current landscape of gifted service models. Which delivery models are most prevalent among gifted programs in the United States today? DINA: The four most popular models are: cluster grouping, enrichment...

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A school psychologist looks on and makes notes as a student completes a puzzle

How can school psychologists use performance validity testing to provide more accurate assessments of students?

Understanding performance validity is important any time maximum performance tests are used (e.g., tests of intelligence, aptitude, achievement, and/or neuropsychological performance). Knowing if a student has given their best effort during assessment is critical to the accuracy of test score interpretation. This need has long been recognized in adults; however,...

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How Local Norms Play An Important Role In Identifying Gifted Students?

Achieving equitable representation in gifted programming of students from diverse cultural, racial, ethnic, linguistic, or socioeconomic backgrounds, or from those who have had limited or different educational experiences, is an ongoing multidimensional issue. There are several factors that must be taken into consideration when developing practices that align with equitable...

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Why is it critical to explore sleep problems with students who have ADHD?

Impaired sleep includes difficulty falling or staying asleep, sleep disturbances (e.g., nightmare, sleepwalking), or feeling tired or fatigued during the daytime (Cortese et al., 2009; Kirov & Brand, 2014). Sleep-related impairments can certainly look like attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) symptoms—for example, both can be associated with difficulty paying attention,...

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Why Marginalized Groups Are Underrepresented In Gifted Programs

Students of historically marginalized groups are often underrepresented in gifted programs relative to white students, but the reasons for this underrepresentation are poorly understood. Black and Hispanic students, English Language Learners (ELL), and students from low socioeconomic groups have been, and remain, considerably underrepresented in gifted programs. These findings are widespread,...

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Must have assessments for school psychologists evaluating ADHD

Assessing ADHD can feel like a monumental task. But when mental health practitioners responsible for the assessment, monitoring, and treatment of ADHD have the right tools and resources, they can make better data-based decisions that lead to better outcomes for the individual being assessed. Why is ADHD so challenging to address? ADHD...

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