NASP Communiqué, Vol. 37, #7
May 2009
Advocating for School Psychologists in
Response to the APA’s Proposed Model Act for State Licensure of Psychologists:
10 Things Individuals Can Do To Help
By Anastasia Kalamaros Skalski
- Send a letter to APA asking for the school
psychology exemption to be reinstated. The most important and critical thing
for every person to do is to send a letter by JUNE 5, 2009, to the
American Psychological Association to express your desire for the
exemption to be reinstated. You can participate in NASP’s “One Click
Solution” which assists you in constructing a personalized response to APA
by clicking on the following link: http://www.nasponline.org/standards/apaletters/oneclick_apa.aspx.
- Learn about the specific details and
implications of the proposed model act so that you can answer questions in
discussions about it. You can learn an incredible amount about the
nuts and bolts of the model act by reviewing the materials that NASP has
posted online. These materials include a complete line-by-line analysis,
summary of implications, and links to essential advocacy materials. These
can be accessed at: http://www.nasponline.org/standards/apamla.aspx.
- Regularly review information about the proposed
model act that is posted on the NASP website or contained in either NASP
or APA Division 16 publications or materials. NASP
provides regular updates about the model act in Communiqué, the online newsletter NASP Announce, and through NASP Advocacy Alerts.
- Promote school psychology and school
psychological services in your local school district. The question
“Why should anyone care about the model act’s impact on school
psychologists?” is really better asked, “Why should anyone care about
school psychologists?” It is critical that school psychologists see as
part of their normal job the responsibility for promoting school
psychology and the value of school psychological services. Where school
psychologists are actively engaged and recognized as essential in a school
district, any threat to the profession is a threat to the mission and
purpose of the school. In these school districts, school administrators,
educators, and parents will line up in support of school psychologists if
the model act proposals gain steam. Where school psychologists are
providing a narrow scope of services, are valued by only a few
stakeholders, or are considered secondary to the mission and purpose of
schools, the model act proposals pose the greatest threat. NASP has
developed the Advocacy Roadmap:
Promoting and Preserving School Psychology to assist members and
associations in promoting school psychology. NASP members should
familiarize themselves with these resources and consider how this tool can
assist them in their efforts. These resources are available to NASP
members at this link:
http://www.nasponline.org/advocacy/psychservicesroadmap.aspx.
- Build relationships with key policy makers in
your local school district, state education association, psychology
licensing board, and state legislature. As your relationship grows, share
your knowledge and opinions about the proposed model act. The
emergence of new public policy is often linked to relationships that
elected officials or other leaders have with people who are dealing with issues.
In anticipation that the model act could advance without a school
psychology exemption, it is important to build the relationships now that
you might need in the future. Schedule an appointment with your school
principal, make a presentation to your school district’s board of
education, or attend a town hall meeting sponsored by an elected official
and introduce yourself. Take this opportunity to tell them about your
training and work and ask how you can assist them with shared priorities
like improving student attendance, school climate, and graduation rates.
- Ask these key policy makers to send a letter
to APA in support of the reinstatement of the school psychology exemption. Once you’ve
developed a relationship with key policy makers, you can consider asking
for their support opposing the model act recommendations.
- Learn about the legislative process in your
state so that you can personally monitor any revisions to your state
psychology licensing laws. Most state’s have comprehensive websites now available
that detail the activities of the general assembly including reviewing
proposed legislation, providing comment, and setting up tools for tracking
legislation. Learning how to navigate these resources now can help
individuals be prepared to respond in the future.
- Review the agenda for state psychology board
licensing meetings and attend any meeting where there are plans to discuss
licensing requirements. State psychology licensing boards also
typically have websites where information about agenda items, schedules
for when issues will be discussed at public meetings, and minutes of
meetings can be reviewed. Becoming familiar with how these boards make
decisions and attending meetings where you can provide input about
proposals that impact school psychologists can be a great way to get
involved.
- Check with your state association to find out
about their response and to see how you can be involved. Your state
school psychology association may be actively preparing a response to the
model act proposals and may need help from people like you to serve on
committees, attend meetings, or send letters. NASP encourages members to
contact their state school psychology associations to see what type of
grassroots advocacy they are planning. To find a link to your state’s
school psychology association, visit this address:
http://www.nasponline.org/about_NASP/links_state_orgs.aspx.
- Notify school psychology association state and
national leaders if you discover anything that relates to the model act. As you
become more aware about the model act’s proposals, you might read or hear
information about issues in your state that seem related. In the event
that this happens, NASP encourages you to contact your state association
president, NASP delegate, NASP GPR committee member, or NASP staff member
to share your information and concerns.
Anastasia Kalamaros Skalski, PhD, is NASP Director, Public Policy.
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