Using Consultation to Support English Learners: The Experiences of Bilingual School Psychologists

Abstract

Through semi-structured interviews, this study explored 11 bilingual school psychologists' (BSPs) consultation experiences with teachers of English learners (EL) to determine referral concerns, recommendations made, challenges encountered, preparation experiences, and skills most needed. The most common referral issue concerned students' academic performance and teachers' attempts to parse out language acquisition difficulties from learning problems. Principal consultation challenges included the scarcity of trained professionals, teacher bias, and the stress of competing school priorities. BSPs relied most on their interpersonal skills and relationship building skills, as well as their knowledge of EL-focused interventions and their problem identification skills. Recommendations to their monolingual school psychology colleagues included the need to actively seek out a) language and culture resources, b) relevant professional development opportunities, and c) consultations with fellow BSPs.

Validity practices in qualitative research in school psychology

“…Nine percent ( n = 13) of the articles cited the use of audit trails, which Vilbas and King-Sears (2021) concisely described as “detailing the process of data collection, analysis, and interpretation of the data” (p. 877). O’Bryon and Rogers (2016) described it as documenting “the process and product of the investigation” (p. 228) including various “methodological considerations and research decisions” they took at each step of the research process. They argue the audit trail aided them in being reflexive about the research.…”

“…Following this meeting, the team members coded the rest of that transcript separately and met again to discuss their coding. Similarly, O’Bryon and Rogers (2016) talked about “extensive training- both didactic and applied” (p. 228) for all the coders in the method of content analysis. Cheng et al (2011) reported all the researchers undergoing a three-hour training on coding, although no details were provided of this training.…”

A multicultural, gender, and sexually diverse affirming school‐based consultation framework

“…Consultation is one method that school psychologists and other mental health professionals may use to infuse culturally competent practice in schools and to effect positive change in school climates (Fisher & Huchting, 2019;Meyers et al, 2012). Specifically, consultation has the potential to improve the professional competence of school personnel across several levels of service delivery (e.g., universal, targeted, and indicated interventions ;Ingraham et al, 2016;O'Bryon & Rogers, 2016). To improve consultation for GSD youth there is a need for school-based consultative approaches that authentically account for the needs of GSD individuals by considering how these students' identities are positioned within educational systems that were not designed for them in the first place.…”