SCHOOL PSYCHOLOGIST

Joliet Public Schools District 86 employs a staff of twelve full-time certified school psychologists. These personnel are primarily responsible for supporting the implementation of Multi-Tiered Systems of Support (MTSS) in the District and for providing diagnostic and related follow-up services to District children from ages 3 through 8th grade.

Multi-Tiered Systems of Support (MTSS): The school psychologists assist district buildings with universal screening and progress monitoring activities. They provide data analysis services to building grade level teams and collaborate with parents, teachers, and other staff to analyze problems and facilitate research-based early interventions for learning and/or behavior problems. School psychologists assist with the evaluation of the effectiveness of the implemented interventions and serve as the chairperson for the Tier 3 problem-solving team.

Diagnostic services: The school psychologists chair the special education meetings pertaining to evaluations and reevaluations. The psychologists initiate the evaluation process by arranging and chairing an individual assessment plan meeting at which to monitor the completion of the recommended assessments. Student Services Coordinators with their psychologists arrange and chair the conference at which the child’s eligibility for special education services is determined. the psychologists also complete intellectual and academic assessments, if needed, as part of the evaluation or reevaluation process to determine special education eligibility.