Current through Register Vol. 42, No. 11, August 30, 2024
(1)
Rationale. The main goal of
these standards is to provide individuals with the necessary knowledge and
abilities to become effective school psychometrists.
(2)
Unconditional Admission to a School
Psychometry Program. The study of school psychometry begins at the Class
A level. Requirements for unconditional admission shall include:
(a)
A valid
bachelor's-level or valid master's-level professional
educator certificate in a teaching field or valid
master's-level professional educator certificate in another area of
instructional support. If an individual is unconditionally admitted to an
Alabama Class A program based on a valid bachelor's-
or master's-level professional educator certificate from another state,
completes a Class A program, and subsequently applies for Alabama certification
at the Class A level, then the individual must hold at least a
valid Class B Professional Educator Certificate before
applying for Class A certification.
(b) Effective July 1, 2017, and thereafter,
two full years of full-time, acceptable professional educational work
experience. Effective July 1, 2019, two full years of full-time, acceptable
P-12 professional educational work experience. See Definition (18).
(3)
Program
Curriculum. In addition to meeting Rule 290-2-2 -.47(2)(a) -(e), the
program must meet the following requirements:
(a)
Data-based decision making and
accountability. Prospective school psychometrists shall demonstrate
ability to:
1. Conduct psychological and
psycho-educational assessments, including:
(i)
Non-biased assessment of personal-social adjustment, intelligence, adaptive
behavior, language and communication skills, academic achievement,
environmental-cultural influences, and vocational interests.
(ii) Formal assessment instruments,
procedures, and techniques.
(iii)
Interviews, observations, and behavioral evaluations.
(iv) Explicit regard for the context in which
assessments take place and will be used.
2. Systematically collect data and other
information about individuals and utilize these data for decision
making.
3. Access information and
technology resources to enhance data collection and decision-making.
(b)
Consultation and
collaboration. Prospective school psychometrists shall demonstrate
ability to:
1. Consult and collaborate in
planning, problem solving, and decision-making processes among diverse school
personnel, families, community professionals, and others.
2. Provide in-service and other skill
enhancement activities for school personnel, parents, and others in the
community regarding issues of human learning, development, and
behavior.
(c)
Interventions and instructional support to develop cognitive and academic
skills. Prospective school psychometrists shall demonstrate ability to:
1. Provide direct and indirect interventions
to facilitate the functioning of individuals, groups, and/or
organizations.
2. Enhance
cognitive, affective, social, and vocational development.
3. Facilitate the delivery of services by
assisting those who play major roles in the educational system (such as
parents, families, school personnel, community agencies).
(d)
Diversity in development and
learning. Prospective school psychometrists shall demonstrate ability to
apply knowledge of diversity in development and learning while providing
professional and effective services in data-based decision making, consultation
and collaboration, and direct and indirect services for individuals, families,
and schools with diverse characteristics, cultures, and backgrounds.
(e)
Research application.
Prospective school psychometrists shall demonstrate ability to evaluate and
synthesize a cumulative body of research and its findings as a foundation for
effective service delivery.
(f)
Legal, ethical, and professional practice. Prospective school
psychometrists shall demonstrate ability to:
1. Provide services consistent with the
Alabama Educator Code of Ethics and the ethical, legal, and professional
standards in school psychology.
2.
Collaborate with local and state education agencies to implement accountability
systems.
3. Advocate for school
psychometrists' professional roles to provide effective services.
(4)
Requirements
for Certification in School Psychometry. Readiness to serve as a school
psychometrist shall include:
(a) At least a
valid Class B Professional Educator Certificate in a
teaching field or a valid Class A Professional
Educator Certificate in a teaching field or in another area of instructional
support.
(b) An official transcript
from a regionally accredited institution documenting an earned master's
degree.
(c) A survey of special
education course is required unless that course was taken for prior level
certification. [See Rule
290-3-3-.01(51)] . An individual who completed a survey of special education course prior to
the semester when the individual met requirements for unconditional admission
to a Class A program July 1, 2017, and thereafter, must take a course focused
primarily on one of the following categories: methods of accommodating
instruction to meet the needs of students with exceptionalities in inclusive
settings, multicultural education, teaching English language learners, rural
education, or urban education. A diversity course used to meet this requirement
for one level of certification may not be used to meet the requirement for a
higher level of certification.
(d)
Satisfactory completion of a State-approved program with a minimum GPA of 3.0
in all courses in the Alabama State Board of Education approved program for
school psychometry. For candidates unconditionally admitted to a Class A school
psychometry program July 1, 2017, and thereafter, a minimum GPA of 3.25 on all
courses in the Alabama State Board of Education approved school psychometry
program.
(e) Competence to perform
as a school psychometrist in a P-12 internship of at least 300 clock hours
supervised by a school psychometrist or school psychologist with at least a
valid master's level professional educator certificate in school psychometry or
school psychology that complies with Rule
290-3-3-.41(5)(e).
(f) A passing score on a comprehensive
assessment documenting mastery of the curriculum of the school psychometry
program, which may include, but may not be limited to, an oral
examination.
(g) Two full years of
full-time, acceptable professional educational work experience if admitted
prior to July 1, 2017.
(5)
Testing for Certification in School
Psychometry. Applicants for initial certification in school psychometry
through the completion of a Class A program must meet the requirements of the
Alabama Educator Certification Assessment Program (AECAP) as a precondition for
certification.
Previous Rule.51 was renumbered.50 per certification
published August 31, 2021; effective October 15,
2021.
Author: Dr. Eric G. Mackey
Statutory Authority:
Code of Ala.
1975, §§
16-3-16,
16-23-14.