Early Childhood Focused Consultation in School Psychology: Examining Current Practice, Identifying Future Opportunities

Abstract

Enrollment in early childhood education has significantly increased over time. Due to the intersection of training that school psychologists possess (e.g., consultative, educational, mental health) and their presence within early education settings, there is great opportunity for scholarship that explores how school psychologists support young children. This special issue offers a compendium of scholarly work reflecting the contemporary role of school psychologists using consultation to provide a broader range of supports in early childhood settings. The introduction outlines the need for consultative approaches when working in early childhood settings and provides a brief overview of each article featured in the special issue. It is our hope that this special issue is a critical next step in the implementation of a comprehensive service delivery model in early childhood settings where consultative approaches are the primary mechanism used to support the educational short-term and long-term needs of young children and their families.