School Psychology program wins full national recognition

Youngstown State University’s School Psychology program has earned the full endorsement of the National Association of School Psychologists.

“This is very exciting news and quite a milestone for this relatively new graduate program,” said Richard VanVoorhis, program director and YSU associate professor of Counseling, School Psychology and Educational Leadership.

The National Association of School Psychologists is the major national professional organization for school psychologists in the United States. The YSU program received full recognition through 2024.

“We strongly believe that high level and comprehensive training experiences as required by NASP are crucial for the success of our graduates,” VanVoorhis said. “We look forward to our continued work in supporting the field of school psychology for the region and beyond.”

YSU is one of only nine universities in Ohio that supports a school psychology program. When started in 2012, the YSU program was the first new School Psychology program in Ohio in more than 40 years. The first group of students graduated in 2015.

The new degree was established to respond to a continuing shortage of school psychologists regionally, across Ohio and nationally. The National Association of School Psychologists estimate a shortage of nearly 9,000 school psychologists nationwide and predict that the shortage could increase to nearly 15,000 by 2020.

In addition to VanVoorhis, faculty for YSU’s program includes Kathleen Aspiranti, assistant professor, and Carrie Jackson, assistant professor. Jake Protivnak is chair of the Department of Counseling, School Psychology and Educational Leadership in the Beeghly College of Education at YSU.

The YSU program is designed to prepare graduates with the necessary knowledge, skills, and dispositions to serve as school psychologists. YSU offers a Master of Education in Intervention Services as the initial degree required for admission to the Educational Specialist in School Psychology program.

For more information, visit /academics/beeghly-college-liberal-arts-social-sciences-education/school-psychology-eds.