Standard 6: Professional Ethics and Legal Mandates

The  program provides candidates with  opportunities and  experiences to display an understanding of professional codes of ethics and current legal mandates, as well  as an awareness of the range of legal  issues, such  as statutory regulatory, and case  law affecting the delivery of pupil  services. The  program requires candidates to demonstrate the ability to access information about legal and ethical matters.

1. Laws and Regulations Pertaining to Children and Families

All candidates demonstrate  familiarity with laws and regulations pertaining to children and families, such as child abuse and neglect reporting laws, client confidentiality, attendance and truancy laws, and federal and state mandates related to special education in the following courses:

*Psychology 277 Role and Function of the School Psychologist
  o Historical Perspectives - Session 2
  o Future - Session 3
  o Legal Issues - Session 20
  o Special Education Case Law - Session 21
  o Special Education Law - Session 22
  o Special Education Law - Session 23
Psychology 284 - Assessment of Intellectual Abilities
  o Learning Objectives-3
  o Standards & Ethics- Session 3
Psychology 285 - Assessment of Learning & Behavior Problems
  o Review of Legal and Ethical Considerations  in Assessment -
Sessions 3
  o Special Education Eligibility-Session 5
*Psychology 267 - Internship in School Psychology
  o Reading/Topic/Discussion: Legal  and Ethical Issues on Professional
Relationships - Session 6 - Fall Semester
  o Topic: Legal Updates - Session 9,10
 
2. Advocate for Children

All candidates demonstrate  knowledge and skills to effectively advocate for children, families, and school staff to ensure that the spirit and intent of relevant laws and legal mandates are maintained in the following courses:

Psychology 277 - Role and Function of the School Psychologist
  o Roles: Cognitive Assessment- Session 10
  o Roles: Assessment of Adaptive Behavior- Session 11
  o Roles: Academic Assessment- Session 12- 13
  o Roles: Assessment of Emotional Disorders- Session 14
  o Roles: Consultation- Session 15
  o Roles: Prevention- Session 17
  o Legal Issues- Session 20
  o Special Education Case Law- Session 21, 22, 23
  o Ethical Issues- Session 24
Psychology 279 - Consultation  and Supervision
  o System Consultation-Session 23
  o Home - School Collaboration Continued; Conjoint Behavior Consultation - Session 26
  o Ethical and Legal Issues & Supervision- Session 27
Psychology 284 - Assessment of Intellectual Abilities
  o Learning Objectives - 1,2
  o Standards & Ethics - Session-3
*Psychology 267 - Internship in School Psychology
  o Goal 2,5,9,14- Fall Semester
  o Reading/Topic: Williams, Armistead, & Jacob (2008). Review of ethics (pp.1-28);
Professional competency (pp. 23-26)- Session 3
  o Goal 2,5,9,14- Spring Semester  Psych_267Spring
  o Technology and Ethical Issues- Session 22
  o Community  Mental Health Resources. Guest: Bill Stout, FCOE/Tielman-
Session 29
  o Topic: Crisis Intervention-  Session 30

3. Informed of Changes in Laws

Each candidate demonstrates  the ability to keep informed of changes in laws and regulations related to California public education in the following courses:

*Psychology 277 - Role and Function  of the School Psychologist 
  o Historical Perspectives - Session 2
  o Future- Session 3
  o Legal Issues - Session 20
  o Special Education Case Law - Session 21
  o Special Education Law - Session 22
  o Special Education Law - Session 23
Psychology 287 - Practicum in School Psychology
  o Outcomes and Goals 1-7 1st Year/Fall Semester
  o Relation of school psychology and special education: Q &A - Session 2
  o Outcomes and Goals- 1-10 1st Year/ Spring Semester
  o Eligibility Review: Mental Retardation - Session 8
  o Eligibility Review: Specific Learning Disability - Session 9
  o Eligibility Review: Emotional Disorder - Session 12
  o Outcomes and Goals - 1-8  2nd Year/ Fall Semester
  o Outcome and Goals - 1-10 2nd Year/ Spring Semester
  o Course description - Pg. 1
  o IEP practice: Proving information on parent rights and explaining results with a normal curve - Session 3
*Psychology 267 - Internship  in School Psychology
  o Legal and Ethical Issues on Professional Relationships - Session 6 - Fall Semester
  o Topic: Legal Updates - Session 9,10
  o Goal 1 - Spring Semester
  o Technology and Ethical Issues - Session 22
Psychology 285 - Assessment of Learning  and Developmental Problems
  o Review of Legal and Ethical Considerations in Assessment- Session 3
  o Special Education Eligibility - Session 5

4. Ethical Conflicts

Candidates effectively demonstrate the ability to recognize and evaluate potential ethical conflicts that arise within the school setting in practicum and internship experiences. Candidates complete a minimum of 500 hours of practicum during their first two years in the program and a minimum of 1200 hours of internship during their third year in the program. Candidates inform practicum and internship field-based supervisors as well as faculty supervisors when they experience such conflicts.  In addition, specific issues are addressed in the following courses:

*Psychology 277 - Role and Function  of the School Psychologist
  o Demographics- Session 4
Psychology 287 - Practicum in School Psychology
  o Outcomes and Goals 1-7 - 1st Year/ Fall Semester
  o Outcomes and Goals- 1-10 - 1st Year/ Spring Semester
  o Outcomes and Goals- 1-8 - 2nd Year/ Fall Semester
  o Outcome and Goals- 1-10 - 2nd Year/ Spring Semester
*Psychology 267 - Internship  in School Psychology
  o Goal 1- Fall Semester
  o Goal 1,3,6- Spring Semester
  o Technology and Ethical Issues - Session 22

5. Appropriate Options

Candidates demonstrate  knowledge of the appropriate options to be pursued when confronted with ethical dilemmas in the following courses:

Psychology 277 - Role and Function of the School Psychologist
  o Legal Issues- Session 20
  o Special Education Law- Session 22
  o Special Education Law- Session 23
  o Ethical Issues- Session 24
Psychology 287 - Practicum in School Psychology
  o Outcomes and Goals 1-7 - 1st Year/ Fall Semester
  o Outcomes and Goals- 1-10 - 1st Year/ Spring Semester
  o Outcomes and Goals- 1-8 - 2nd Year/ Fall Semester
  o Outcome and Goals- 1-10 - 2nd Year/ Spring Semester
*Psychology 267 - Internship in School Psychology
  o Goal 1 - Fall Semester
  o Reading/Topic: Williams, Armistead, & Jacob (2008). Review of ethics (pp.1 -28); Professional competency (pp. 23-26) - Session 3
  o Legal and Ethical Issues on Professional Relationships- Session 6
  o Topic: Legal Updates - Session 9,10
  o Goal 1- Spring Semester

6. Due Process

Candidates demonstrate  knowledge of the implications and legal applications of due process in the following courses:

*Psychology 277 - Role and Function of the School Psychologist
  o Legal Issues - Session 20
  o Special Education Case Law - Session 21
  o Special Education Law - Session 22
  o Special Education Law - Session 23
  o Ethical Issues- Session 24
Psychology 267 - Internship in School Psychology
  o Legal and Ethical Issues on Professional Relationships - Session 6 - Fall Semester
  o Topic: Legal Updates - Session 9,10

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