Virtual Round Table Discussion: 

Psychological Assessment During a Pandemic

Wednesday August 5, 2020 

3:00 - 4:30 PM

Facilitators: 

Terri Allen, Ph.D. 

Stacey Maugeri, Ed.S. NCSP

Kristine Mercurio-Tornabene, M.S.Ed. Advcd.Cert.

Brianna I. Prego, Ed.S. NCSP

***An Interactive Discussion***

This Zoom “roundtable” discussion will focus on “best practices” re: various questions and concerns related to the assessment role of the NJ school psychologist during the COVID-19 pandemic. While the facilitators will provide information, there will be opportunity for discussion and sharing in the larger group and within zoom breakout rooms. This is an opportunity to learn (and share) what is working well, or "not so much." We want to hear your experiences!

Description: School Psychologists are known for being flexible problem-solvers and over the past several months, we have needed to tap this skill more than ever. Although we have found ways to continue much of our work remotely, evaluation completion has been an ongoing concern since school buildings closed in March. School Psychologists and other CST members may feel caught between a rock and a hard place, so to speak, between the pressure of mandated timelines and the weight of conducting evaluations in a way that is reliable, valid, and meaningful. At each stage of the school pandemic response, NJASP released guidance documents reflecting the most pressing issues relative to that particular stage. The common message - Evaluations should only take place if they can be completed safely, ethically and legally.

This Zoom “roundtable” discussion will focus on “best practices” re: various questions and concerns related to the assessment role of the NJ school psychologist during the COVID-19 pandemic. While the facilitators will provide information, there will be opportunity for discussion and sharing in the larger group and within zoom breakout rooms. This is an opportunity to learn (and share) what is working well, or "not so much." We want to hear your experiences!

Objectives

• Participants will learn about various PPE and related safety procedures being used by other school psychologists in NJ that fall within CDC/NJDOH/NJDOE guidelines. 

• Participants will examine various adaptations to test administration, recognize potential threats to reliability and validity, and be able to describe strategies for minimizing error and increase confidence in assessment results.

• Participants will learn how to interpret and communicate assessment data in light of the circumstances. 

• Participants will examine how to expand their assessment “toolbox” using multiple sources of data via a robust MTSS framework.

• Participants will integrate information presented by the facilitators, the experiences/expertise of workshop colleagues, and their own personal skills, in order to provide student centered “best practice” psychological assessments. 

Participants are encouraged to be familiar with the NJASP Evaluation Guidance documents (released April, June, and July) in order to better prepare for the discussion. You can find documents on the website or link here for copies of the papers  April , June , July

Participants will be encouraged to share any resources that they have found valuable. Attendees will have opportunities to discuss topics in smaller breakout rooms and within the whole group setting. 

Due to the format of this workshop, attendance will be capped at 30. The workshop is Free to NJASP members who will have the opportunity to register first. The workshop will be open to non-members at a small fee of $5 if slots are available following member registration. 

Please contact Terri @njasp.web@gmail.com with any questions. 

A link to the workshop will be emailed confirming registration.