Abstract
This article aims to present and analyze the conceptions and practices of psychologists who work in public policies of Basic Education in the state of São Paulo. Psychologists were interviewed from nine cities, whose practices are in line with the main discussions in the area of School and Educational Psychology related to an institutional action and based on the social and cultural reality of the school. The work of the professionals is analyzed under three axes: a) history of constitution of the service modality; b) practices developed and c) conceptions that support this action. In general, there are: a) great diversity of ways of hiring psychologists, demonstrating the need for a national policy for the insertion of psychologists in the public education system, b) conceptions and practices focused on interventions in the schooling process, Teacher training and criticism of the medicalization of Education.
Keywords:
Psychologist performance; qualitative research; Basic education.