Report: New York school psychologists spread thin

Some schools in New York state are struggling to find enough school psychologists, according to a report from the New York State School Boards Association. But even in districts that meet the minimum federal guidelines, administrators want more psychologists on staff. School administrators quoted in the report said their psychologists were finding themselves mired in administrative tasks like scheduling meetings to set up individualized education plans for students with special needs. A superintendent in Broome County said his district had enough school psychologist positions to meet basic requirements, but with an increase in special education students, psychologists there were spread thin. Two-thirds of school psychologists surveyed by the state school boards association said their district did not have enough psychologists to meet students’ needs, according to the report. Rural areas seemed to be affected the most by a lack of school psychologists, with some rural district