National School Psychology Week is a time to recognize the important work that school psychologists and other educators do to help students thrive, work through life’s hardships, meet goals and grow.
And one way we can show our appreciation is to participate in Advocacy Action Day, held Nov. 10 this year, and encourage lawmakers to fund the crucial services schools and students need.
This year's theme for National School Psychology Week — "Let's Get in GEAR" — challenges professionals to grow both personally and professionally; engage in best practices; advocate for children's access to mental health and learning supports; and rise toward resilience and renewal despite the challenges.
NASP has several resources for Advocacy Action Day including sample letters to state and federal lawmakers and sample social media posts.
Images for sharing on social media are also available.
As part of its Future Forward initiative, NYSUT has called on schools to prioritize, fund and staff social workers, psychologists, school nurses and counselors, stressing the need to take care of students’ social-emotional needs. NYSUT promoted the call to action on the cover of the recent NYSUT United.
In New York’s public schools, most psychologists are members of NYSUT and many belong to the New York Association of School Psychologists. School psychologists, who are mainstays of student mental health, have been pivotal resources in helping students and educators deal with the ongoing trials of the COVID-19 pandemic in addition to other strife.
NYSUT is recommending three bills currently before the state Legislature – to require schools to employ at least one full-time social worker and a licensed school psychologist; to require at least one counselor; and to ensure that all districts and BOCES have a nurse in each building.
This year’s funding from state Foundation Aid and the federal American Recovery Plan is a pathway to accomplishing these long-overdue goals, said NYSUT President Andy Pallotta in recent testimony to state senate education and budget committees.
So, on Nov. 10, highlight the important work of school psychologists on social media, with letters to lawmakers and at your local school district.
Let’s get in GEAR!
National School Psychology Week Resources