title: Reasons for African American student attrition from school psychology programs.
abstract: This phenomenological study used a series of three in-depth interviews with seven African American participants, for a total of 21 interviews, to explore their experiences in the specialist and doctoral level school psychology programs they left prior to obtaining a professional entry-level degree. The study's purpose was to investigate what factors contributed to participants' attrition. Findings indicate that misalignment between participants' career aims and the practice of school psychology (as presented in the programs they left) contributed to attrition. Poor relationships with school psychology faculty and program cohort peers also played a role in participants' decisions to leave school psychology programs. Results offer a unique lens into racial issues in school psychology. Recommendations for faculty and others interested in preventing African Americans' attrition from school psychology graduate education are discussed.
authors.affiliation: Queens College of the City University of New York, Department of Education and Community Programs, Flushing, NY 11367, United States. sherrie.proctor@qc.cuny.edu
authors.forename: Sherrie L
authors.initials: SL
authors.lastname: Proctor
authors.forename: Stephen D
authors.initials: SD
authors.lastname: Truscott
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D001741:Black or African American / Q000193:education / Q000523:psychology* / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D004500:Education, Graduate / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007407:Interviews as Topic; D008297:Male; D011588:Psychology, Educational / Q000193:education* / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D013332:Student Dropouts / Q000523:psychology / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D014481:United States