School Psychology in Ceará:

Survey of the Professional Insertion of Psychologists in the Public Basic Education Network

Abstract

This article aims to discuss data obtained from municipal and state transparency portals regarding psychologists linked to Basic Education in Ceará. The data were collected as part of the multicenter research project "The Role of School and Educational Psychologists in Latin America: Conceptions, Challenges, and Innovations in Public Policies for Basic Education," coordinated by Professor Marilene Proença Rebello de Souza. The study seeks to analyze the impacts of Federal Law No. 13.935/2019 on the work of school psychologists. Data collection in Ceará was carried out by a research team composed of coordinators from three public universities in Ceará, in addition to graduate and undergraduate students, professionals, and fellows, with financial support from FUNCAP. The survey was conducted between September and November 2023, accessing the transparency portals of municipal city halls and the State Secretariat of Education of Ceará. The data were organized into spreadsheets and charts. The analysis considered relevant legislation, area censuses, and studies on the involvement and work of psychologists in education, with a critical approach. A total of 223 psychologists working in education were identified in 71 of Ceará’s 184 municipalities, and 43 psychologists were identified in the State Secretariat of Education. In terms of the ratio of students to professionals, only one municipality has more than 2 psychologists per thousand students. At the state level, the ratio is approximately 0.11 psychologists per thousand students. The mapping provided an initial overview of the insertion of psychologists in education, guiding the next stages of the research.