When working with families, what should the focus be for school psychologists?

The focus for school psychologists when working with families should be on building collaborative partnerships for student success. This approach emphasizes the importance of creating relationships with families that are centered around support, communication, and shared goals for the student's educational and emotional well-being. Collaborative partnerships enable school psychologists to better understand the context of each student's life, including home environments and family dynamics, which can significantly affect academic performance and social development.

By fostering a partnership with families, school psychologists can create a more supportive network for the student, where parents, guardians, and educators work together to address challenges and leverage opportunities for growth. This collaboration can involve sharing resources, strategies, and insights that benefit the student while also empowering families to engage actively in their child's education.

In contrast, focusing only on family issues impacting academics could overlook the broader context of a child's well-being; communicating policy changes exclusively does not engage families in the educational process; and limiting interactions to formal meetings could restrict openness and ongoing dialogue, which are essential for effective collaboration. Thus, building collaborative partnerships is a holistic and proactive approach that ultimately benefits the student more than the other options.