Social justice represents a commitment to ethics in the broadest sense. Consistent with a social justice perspective, NASP’s Principles for Professional Ethics call upon all school psychologists to promote fairness and justice and to cultivate school climates that are safe and welcoming for all children regardless of their cultural backgrounds. In engaging in socially just practice, school psychologists are encouraged to challenge systemic structures that contribute to students’ difficulties and advocate for students and families with less power and privilege. However, they may have a limited understanding of how ethical principles undergird this social justice work. This presentation will help school psychologists understand the interaction of ethics and social justice in school psychology, how the NASP standards support a social justice approach to school psychology practice, and how to apply a values-based ethical decision-making model to social justice issues in school psychology practice.

Workshop Objectives:

This session will help participants

1. describe how aspirational ethical principles and community standards can support social justice goals;
2. explain how the NASP standards, particularly the Principles for Professional Ethics, support a social justice approach to school psychology practice;
3. identify ethical and social justice dilemmas in school-based practice; and
4. learn to apply a values-based ethical decision-making model to their school psychology practice.

Prerequisite Knowledge

Familiarity with the Principles for Professional Ethics and NASP’s social justice definition.

Practical Tools

Decision making worksheet on the values-based ethical decision-making model.