Focused Practice: Advancing High-Impact School-Based Occupational Therapy

The Focused Practice Series is a professional learning and practice transformation series designed to help school-based occupational therapy practitioners and administrators refocus services on what matters most for student participation, access, and educational outcomes. Grounded in the ESOT Quality Indicators for School-Based Occupational Therapy Practice and informed by principles of de-implementation science, the series examines how competing demands, outdated habits, low-value activities, and compliance-driven practices can unintentionally limit the effectiveness and impact of occupational therapy services in schools. Rather than adding more initiatives or strategies, this series helps participants critically examine current practices, identify opportunities to reduce or eliminate low-impact activities, and strengthen alignment between occupational therapy services, educational priorities, and meaningful student outcomes. Each session combines evidence, reflective discussion, systems thinking, and practical application to support thoughtful and sustainable practice change. Participants will explore high-impact school-based occupational therapy practices related to participation-focused services, collaborative teaming, intervention planning, educational relevance, workload management, evidence-based decision making, and systems-level implementation. Throughout the series, practitioners will develop stronger clinical reasoning, greater confidence in service decision making, and practical strategies for creating more effective, sustainable, and student-centered school-based occupational therapy programs.