History
Since the early 1980’s, the School Psychology Program has met the need expressed by administrators and school psychology practitioners for a program providing a broadened educational background for school psychologists. This broad preparation has enabled program graduates more flexibility in meeting the needs of all students in a preventive role. It has also prepared school psychologists with the skills to collaborate and/or consult with classroom teachers and parents prior to and following assessment and placement of k-12 students in special education.
In 1980, the Seattle University Board of Trustees approved the establishment of the educational specialist degree (Ed.S.) program in School Psychology. In 1982, the Washington State Office of the Superintendent of Public Instruction approved the program as meeting state requirements for Educational Staff Associate (E.S.A.) certification in school psychology. The program was approved under new Washington State Residency Standards in 2005. The program received full approval from the National Association of School Psychologists (NASP) in 1998 and was approved with conditions in December 2007. To address NASP conditions, program faculty have designed changes in policies and requirements that will be implemented over the next two academic years, 2008-2009 and 2009-2010.