In certain situations, the psychologist may also provide counseling services, instruction and mentoring for students struggling with a combination of social, emotional and behavioral problems. In addition, the psychologist also assesses and monitors the emotional status of the student to pinpoint any factors which may affect behavior and academic performance. The primary role of the psychologist is to assess the student’s developmental and cognitive abilities. Ideally, they will meet before any special education testing is conducted and will continue to meet periodically if the student requires special services. A typical CST consists of a psychologist, a learning disabilities consultant, social worker and oftentimes, a speech/language therapist alongside the student’s parents.

These services include consultative, evaluative and prescriptive services for students who are experiencing academic difficulties. What is a Child Study Team? Child Study Team (CST) is a multidisciplinary group of professionals typically employed by the board of education to provide parents and teachers with a variety of learning related services.

What is cst