-
By Maria Cornell Atumah, NASP Policy & Advocacy Manager |
The Trump Administration has again requested that Congress make drastic cuts to federal funding for public education programs. The request notably eliminates or consolidates many K-12 programs and—if actualized—would harm public schools and the students they serve. This blog reviews key aspects of the President's budget request and explains why NASP is urging Congress to reject this request.
-
By Amy Cannava (SOGD Committee Chair), Maria Cornell Atumah (NASP Policy and Advocacy Manager), Michael Paff (NYASP President-Elect), & Julia Szarko (PPAC Committee Chair) |
Earlier this month, NASP leaders and staff attended an advocacy summit hosted by Welcoming Schools, a project of the HRC Foundation that provides LGBTQ+ and gender inclusive professional development training and resources designed for pre-K–12 educators and youth-serving professionals. This Policy Matters blog provides an overview of this summit to support NASP members in their efforts to foster safe, supportive, and inclusive schools for all students
-
By Maria Cornell Atumah, NASP Policy & Advocacy Manager |
There have been developments on key federal issues affecting school psychologists. This blog recaps recent updates affecting federal education funding and student loan cap policies.
-
By Chuck Archer, NASP Professional Policy Advocacy and Credentialing Committee Member |
Ages ago, the Greeks taught us about different kinds of love by using words like "agape", "eros", and more, each representing various and different kinds of love. One of the four major types of love professed by those ancient folks was "storge," which refers to the love between family members. It represents a strong, enduring bond and is described as "a protective love that can withstand hardships and trials." We show storge for our profession by responding to NASP's requests for advocacy action, whether that be adding our support for proposed changes or our opposition to potential harm affecting our field and the children and families we serve. We know that if we speak as a group, we are more likely to be successful in furthering our concerns and attaining our desired outcome.
-
By Dr. Kelly Vaillancourt Strobach, NASP Policy & Advocacy Director |
On Wednesday, January 28, NASP participated in a listening session hosted by the U.S. Department of Education's Office of Special Education and Rehabilitative Services. This blog recaps the issues raised by parents, educators, administrators, researchers, faculty, and individuals with disabilities during the 3-hour session.
-
By Dr. Brandy Taylor Dédé, NCSP, LSSP, NASP Professional Policy, Advocacy, and Credentialing Committee Member |
This Policy Matters blog discusses the importance of incorporating youth perspectives and voices in the policy process. The author reviews ways that school psychologists can utilize their skills in systems change and advocacy to elevate youth voices from the testing room, group counseling, and the classroom to the spaces where decisions are made.
-
By Dr. Kelly Vaillancourt Strobach, NASP Policy & Advocacy Director |
Last week, the U.S. Department of Education announced more than $200 million in new awards for the Mental Health Service Professional and School-Based Mental Health grant programs. These investments continue to demonstrate the critical role of school psychologists, and access to comprehensive school psychological services, in advancing student well-being. A review of FY 2025 awards and related grant activity from 2022–2024 highlights both the scale of these efforts and the resilience of the field in navigating shifting funding landscapes.
-
By Dr. Kelly Vaillancourt Strobach, NASP Policy & Advocacy Director |
This week, the Trump Administration set into motion the next phase of its plan to dismantle the U.S. Department of Education. These actions, including transferring the Office of Elementary and Secondary Education to the Department of Labor, will disrupt the government's critical role in ensuring a coordinated, accountable, and equitable public education system and highlight the importance of NASP's Resolution on the Federal Role in Education.
-
By Dr. Kelly Vaillancourt Strobach, NASP Policy & Advocacy Director |
The U.S. Department of Education published the final rule on the Public Service Loan Forgiveness (PSLF) program on October 31, 2025. This rule largely mirrors the initial proposal, which NASP, allied organizations, many state associations, and NASP members wrote to oppose. It is important that school psychologists who are currently enrolled, or who plan to enroll, in PSLF understand the upcoming changes and how they may impact eligibility moving forward.
-
By Dr. Kelly Vaillancourt Strobach, NASP Policy & Advocacy Director |
On October 1, 2025, due to Congress’ failure to pass appropriations (i.e., funding) legislation, the federal government shut down. As a result, most of the U.S. Department of Education’s work has halted, and most staff were furloughed. Then, on October 10, the Trump Administration announced another reduction in force (RIF), impacting many within the Department of Education. These mass layoffs represent the latest effort to dismantle the Department and reduce the federal government’s role in education, and NASP joined a diverse coalition calling for the reversal of these layoffs.
-
By Dr. Kelly Vaillancourt Strobach, NASP Policy & Advocacy Director |
On Monday, the U.S. Department of Education released revised priorities for both the MHSP and SBMH, and it announced a new grant competition. A total of $270 million is available to support a range of efforts to address workforce shortages in school psychology and increase access to comprehensive services. Information about the grants and applications is included in this blog.
-
By Maria Cornell Atumah, NASP Policy & Advocacy Manager |
NASP has been closely monitoring recent policy changes and proposals that will affect federal student loan access and forgiveness opportunities. We continue to advocate for school psychologists’ access to programs that make attaining a higher education accessible and more affordable. This Policy Matters blog is an overview of upcoming and proposed changes that will affect school psychologists and what still needs to be clarified by federal policymakers.
-
By Dr. Terri Allen, NASP Professional Policy, Advocacy, and Credentialing Committee Member |
Through the author's work as a school psychologist and her advocacy at the local, state, and federal levels, she has come to believe: Advocacy is both a science and an art. You need both to make a real impact.
-
By Maria Cornell & Dr. Kelly Vaillancourt Strobach, NASP Policy & Advocacy Staff |
The Trump Administration and Congress continue to enact policy that directly conflicts with NASP positions, undermines our priorities, and will ultimately harm schools and the children we serve. This blog will give an overview of some of the recent policy developments, as well as issues we are following closely, that are most relevant to school psychologists.
-
By Kelly Vaillancourt Strobach, PhD & Maria Cornell, NASP Policy and Advocacy Staff |
The Trump Administration released its full budget request for Fiscal Year (FY) 2026, which proposes to drastically reduce critical federal investments in public education. Notably, this budget request reflects the goal of the Trump Administration to eventually eliminate the Department of Education while also promising to maintain core functions. Given the recent reduction in force, which eliminated more than half of the staff at the Department, combined with this budget proposal, it seems impossible to maintain key services that support states, local school districts, educators, students, and families.
-
By Dr. Tiffany Phillips, NCSP, NASP Professional Policy Advocacy and Credentialing Committee Member |
At a time when educational policy is in constant flux and advocacy demands our sustained attention, rest may seem like a luxury-one reserved for when the work is done. But for school psychologists who engage in advocacy, policy reform, and systemic change, rest is not just a personal need-it's a strategic imperative.
-
By Kelly Vaillancourt Strobach, NASP Director of Policy & Advocacy |
NASP's advocacy to address the shortages in school psychology led to the creation of the Mental Health Service Professional Demonstration Grant Program and the School-Based Mental Health Services Grant Program. Earlier this week, many, but not all, grantees received letters from the U.S. Department of Education notifying them that their grants would not be funded beyond the end of the current budget year.
-
By Kelly Vaillancourt Strobach, NASP Director of Policy & Advocacy |
We have heard of growing anxiety and concern among NASP members regarding the various executive orders issued by President Trump in the first month and a half of his second term, including the ongoing reports about a plan to dismantle the U.S. Department of Education. Let’s tackle the issue that is likely top of mind for most NASP members. What is going on with the US Department of Education?
-
By Chuck Archer, NASP GPR Committee Central Region Representative |
This Valentine’s Day, school psychologists are encouraged to show love through advocacy by amplifying the voices of students and communities in need. NASP is collecting stories to support policy efforts, and school psychologists can take action by sharing their experiences and contacting elected officials.
-
By Dr. Kelly Vaillancourt Strobach, NASP Director of Policy & Advocacy and Dr. Julia Szarko, NASP Government & Professional Relations Committee Chair |
Since President Trump assumed office on January 20, he has signed more than 50 Executive Orders, several of which are related to public schools and institutions of higher education. This Policy Matters Blog aims to clarify what executive orders are and their plausible impact.
-
By Kelly Vaillancourt Strobach, NASP Director of Policy & Advocacy, and Carmen Needham, NASP Multicultural Affairs Committee (MAC) Latinx Co-Chair |
This blog summarizes the key legal protections of students, including those that are undocumented, and specific actions school psychologists can take to support immigrant students and their families. This blog will also help school psychologists and other school professionals help immigrant communities understand their rights.
-
By Kelly Vaillancourt Strobach, PhD & Maria Cornell, NASP Policy and Advocacy Staff |
This blog provides an overview of NASP's 2025 Federal Policy Platform, transition memo to the incoming Trump Administration, a summary of results from our recent federal advocacy survey, predictions of state education policy trends, and information about upcoming opportunities.
-
By Kristin Rush, Co-Chair of NASP's Government and Professional Relations Committee |
Lawmakers, advocates, and constituents are queueing up for the 2025 legislative session. It is important to work backwards from known deadlines to determine when to reach out to legislators, and it is very important to get onto legislators' calendars early.
-
By Maria Cornell, NASP Manager of Policy and Advocacy |
Last month, more than 70 school psychologists from across the country came to Washington, DC for NASP's annual Public Policy Institute. This year's theme was, "Safe, Welcoming, and Inclusive Schools: Education as It Should Be," which brought forth important conversations on how to promote school safety and positive school climate while centering equity.
-
By Maria Cornell, NASP Manager of Policy and Advocacy |
Almost a full year has passed since U.S. House appropriators proposed drastic cuts to federal education funding in FY 2024. Unfortunately, they are trying to do it again in FY 2025. If passed, the proposed cuts would spell significant harm to children and have significant consequences for school-based mental health funding.
-
By Chuck Archer, NASP GPR Committee Member |
As school psychologists, advocacy is baked into our DNA. At times, we are called to advocate for (or against) a local, state, or federal policy proposal that would impact the profession, our role, or outcomes for students. We are not always successful in getting our points across or achieving our goals, but we may be focusing on what seems impossible, rather than what is possible.
-
By Jhanelle Adams, NASP GPR Committee Graduate Student Representative |
Graduate students are the future leaders of our field. We are uniquely positioned to advocate for policy changes in different contexts, including our classes, programs, field-based sites, districts, communities, states, and the nation.
-
By Maria Cornell, NASP Manager of Policy and Advocacy |
After months of anticipation the U.S. Department of Education unveiled its updated Title IX regulations last Friday. The final rule’s newly expanded definition of sex-based discrimination and harassment will go into effect August 1, 2024.
-
By Jamie Raborn, NASP GPR Committee Southern Regional Representative |
For many state associations, and for individual school psychologists in particular, the task of reviewing and responding to legislation in a timely and meaningful way can seem daunting, but building and using a coalition allows us to expand our reach and impact by advancing beyond just a handful of school psychologists trying to do it on our own.
-
By Kelly Vaillancourt Strobach, NASP Director of Policy and Advocacy |
On Monday, President Biden released his FY 25 Budget, detailing his policy and fiscal priorities for the upcoming fiscal year. The President’s Budget represents a commitment to preserve and maintain the recent historic investments in public education in light of the fiscal constraints and spending caps in place for FY25. But, it is up to us to fight hard and protect these investments over the next several months.
-
By Terri Allen, PhD, NASP GPR Committee Northeast Regional Representative |
Executive functioning refers to a set of cognitive skills that enable individuals to plan, organize, prioritize, strategize, and execute tasks effectively. These skills provide the foundation necessary for planning and implementing advocacy efforts.
-
By Maria Cornell, NASP Manager of Policy and Advocacy |
NASP is excited to share that the Department of Education (Department) has issued a notice inviting applications for the Mental Health Service Professional (MHSP) Demonstration Grant Program and the School-Based Mental Health Services (SBMH) Grant Program! These two grants support efforts to address the root causes of shortages in school-based mental health professions, including school psychology, and have already helped strengthen the workforce pipeline and increase access to mental and behavioral health services in schools across the country.
-
By Dr. Julia Szarko, NASP GPR Committee Co-Chair |
In 2023, many educators found themselves deeply entrenched in "culture war" attacks against public education; safe, supportive, and inclusive schools; social-emotional learning; and equity and diversity. This Policy Matters blog author thought this would never come to her district. But it did. The advocacy playbook of old needed an update to tackle the ugly atmosphere she was living in if positive change was to occur.
-
By Tom Brant, NASP GPR Committee Northeast Regional Representative |
To optimize the impact of advocacy efforts, it is vital for school psychologists to effectively engage with social workers and counselors to form a united front in promoting equitable mental and behavioral health initiatives at the local and state levels.
-
By Kelly Vaillancourt Strobach and Maria Cornell, NASP Policy and Advocacy Staff |
Even with incredible demands on your time, you have continued to raise your voice to advocate for children, youth, and the profession at the local, state, and federal levels.
-
By Kari Oyen, PhD, NASP GPR Committee Chair |
One of the ways in which we build our advocacy skills is to encourage school psychologists to have their elevator speech. This simply means being able to keep your asks simple (only three key points) and saying them to a decision-maker in less than the ride you take in an elevator.
-
By Maria Cornell, NASP Policy and Advocacy Manager |
Without federal funding in place for FY 2024 or a plan for short-term “continuation” funding, the federal government is at risk of shutting down at 12:01 a.m. this Sunday, October 1.
-
By Kristin Rush, Western Region GPR Representative |
This school year many school psychologists are returning to school buildings and districts that continue to be understaffed and underserved. However, despite staffing shortages, school psychologists across the country are returning to schools eager to make meaningful and impactful change.
-
By Maria Cornell, NASP Policy and Advocacy Manager |
This past weekend, President Biden signed the Fiscal Responsibility Act of 2023 (H.R. 3746) into law finalizing a deal to raise the debt ceiling. This agreement also has implications for federal education funding and student loan borrowers.
-
By Dr. Celeste M. Malone, NASP President |
This Policy Matters blog takes a deeper look at NASP President Celeste Malone’s testimony at the June 5, 2023, Congressional Gun Violence Prevention Taskforce Forum, as well as reflections on the importance of being an advocate.
-
By Kristin Rush, Western Region GPR Representative |
This year's PPI will focus on the theme "Advocate as if Public Education Depends on It: Supporting Civil Rights for All Students."
-
By Dr. Meagan Medley, NASP GPR Southeast Representative |
Getting ready for the annual NASP convention has always excited me. Not only do I get to see friends and colleagues who I greatly admire in the field, but I get to learn from them.
US