Chicago Public Schools (CPS) is the third-largest school district in the United States, serving over 340,000 students in 600 schools and employing nearly 36,000 people, most of them teachers. CPS has set ambitious goals to ensure that every student, in every school and every neighborhood, has access to a world-class learning experience that prepares each for success in college, career, and civic life. In order to fulfill this mission, we make three commitments to our students, their families, and all Chicagoans: academic progress, financial stability, and integrity. Six core values are embedded within these commitments – student-centered, whole child, equity, academic excellence, community partnership, and continuous learning. The Chicago Public Schools (CPS) has set ambitious goals to ensure that every child—in every school and every neighborhood—has access to a world-class learning experience from birth, resulting in graduation from high school college- and career-ready.

Under the direct supervision of the Office of Diverse Learner Supports and Services CPS school psychologist, the intern will support an array of evaluative, direct, and consultative/collaborative services to enhance the educational outcomes of students enrolled in the CPS. Interns will carry out their daily responsibilities across the entire city and will have the opportunity to provide services to students ages 3 through 21. All duties are performed in accordance with both federal and state statutes, Illinois State Board of Education procedures, and CPS policy.

Duties and responsibilities directly align to the NASP Practice Domains, and include, but are not limited to the following:

• Utilize data-based decision making to drive instruction
• Consultation and collaboration with all relevant stakeholders
• Provide interventions and instructional support to develop academic skills
• Provide mental health services to develop social and life skills
• Support/develop school-wide practices to promote learning
• Support school in the provision of multitiered prevention and evidence-based strategies for effective crisis response
• Engage in legal and ethical professional practices

Specific professional day-to-day duties and responsibilities of a school psychologist intern may include but are not limited to:

Promoting school-wide practices to support learning and a positive school climate

Engaging in MTSS efforts using researched-based interventions

Implementing school-wide positive behavioral support systems

Suggesting academic/learning interventions and differentiated instructional supports

Providing mental and behavioral health interventions to students with disabilities as well as their non-disabled peers.

Conducting ongoing academic/behavioral data collection and analyzing progress monitoring data

Identifying at-risk students and school vulnerabilities

Providing crisis response, recovery, and prevention services

Supervising school psychology practicum students and interns

Assisting with the development and implementation of Functional Behavioral Assessments (FBAs) and Behavior Intervention Plans (BIPs)

Providing in-service training to school staff members

Consulting and collaborating with parents, school staff, and community service providers

Conducting comprehensive evaluations with individual students to determine their unique strengths and weaknesses (behavioral, cognitive, emotional, academic, adaptive, personality)

Assisting with the development of IEP’s and 504 Plans for diverse learners

Screening the learning environments of students

Reaching out to families when needed to enhance home-school collaboration

EMPLOYMENT QUALIFICATIONS:

Applicants must have completed relevant coursework in school psychology from an accredited college or university, as well as school-based practica experiences. In order to be eligible for an internship within Chicago Public Schools, there must be a University Agreement in place between CPS and the prospective university.