School Psychologists as Preschool Consultants: Scaling up Classroom-Based Program-Wide Positive Behavior Supports

Abstract

Implementation of multi-tiered frameworks for supporting staff behavior in preschools requires collaboration with skilled professionals. Given their training and skillset, school psychologists are uniquely equipped to fill this role; however, limited existing research guides practitioners in maximizing their potential as systems-level consultants in preschools, specifically through the application of systems-level behavioral consultation (BC). This paper provides a detailed description of how two school psychologists applied systems-level BC to address the needs of one preschool, resulting in the implementation of a classroom coaching intervention. Coaching, which focused on staff’s use of Pyramid Model practices in the classroom, consisted of systematic observations and performance feedback across 10 classrooms. Three skills were targeted for improvement: Teaching Expectations, Praise, and Teaching Social Skills. A multiple baseline design showed increases in staff’s skill implementation, and consultees found systems-level BC acceptable. Implications for school psychologists’ role as consultants in preschools are discussed.