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2020 Back to School Advocacy Resources

Posted by: Caden Fabbi, NASP Manager, Policy and Advocacy on

As we enter this unprecedented, unique school year, school psychologists are faced with uncertainty and many major new challenges. As a result of the economic downturn due to the COVID-19 pandemic, school districts will be faced with revenue shortfalls now and in future years. Without significant federal and state aid, districts may choose to cut budgets—possibly putting school psychologist positions and important education programs at risk. 

The following list contains the advocacy resources that will be most helpful to advocate for school psychology and the schools, students, and communities you serve as policy and budgetary decisions are made.

  1. Advocacy Resource to Protect School Psychologist Positions: This new resource was created to assist with advocacy efforts to protect school psychologist positions. It includes tips for staying on top of local and state education meetings, tips for drafting testimony, sample testimony and advocacy emails, social media and alternative advocacy strategy tips, and more. We highly recommend reviewing this document.

  1. Policy Playbook: NASP's comprehensive educational advocacy resource can guide individuals or state association leaders through advocacy strategies and ideas. This resource encompasses the basics of advocacy, communication strategies, key talking points and messages on relevant topics, and much, much more.

  1. Policy Matters Blog: NASP's policy blog consists of posts about up-to-date policy news from Capitol Hill and across the country, updates from NASP's advocacy team, and strategies that individuals and states have used to effectively advocate in their communities.

  1. Subscribe to daily education news emails: One of the best ways to stay on top of education policy is by subscribing to daily newsletters that focus on education. One of our favorites: Morning Education by Politico. Education Week (@edweek/@politicsk12 on Twitter) and NPR (@npr_ed on Twitter) also have departments that regularly share education news, research, analyses, and more.

  1. Advocacy Action Center: NASP regularly encourages members to take action by sending letters or calling congressional offices through our Advocacy Action Center. At all times, there will be prewritten template letters that you can edit and send to your elected representatives, simply by filling out the form linked to the letter subject. It takes just two minutes! 

  1. Advocacy and Public Policy Interest Group: This interest group in NASP's online communities is a space where you can talk about current political topics, stay aware of NASP's advocacy efforts, and learn about ways you can get involved.

  1. Interactive Map of State Bills: This feature on NASP's website contains an interactive map of state bills that are relevant to school psychology. Simply by clicking on your state, you can get a full list of, and links to, bills that have been flagged in NASP's state legislation tracking software.

  1. Critical Policy Issues Webpages: NASP has published specific issue pages that include research documents, key talking points and messages, infographics, and more, which you can use to prepare for meetings and communications with legislators.