School Psychology Service Configurations: A Regional Approach

Abstract

Because of uneven local funding resources, uneven distribution of federal funding, lack of qualified staff and programs, and mandates for educational services, especially in identifying and serving handicapped children, regional service delivery systems have been a predominant model of providing services in rural areas. Many of the diversities of regional models (e.g., governance, scope of program and funding) are discussed utilizing programs of various states as examples. The findings of the literature review and a survey indicate that while these regional educational service models may proliferate in rural areas, the provision of a full range of school psychological services through a regional model may be changing in its nature.