January 2014 marked the 25th anniversary of the formal adoption of the National School Psychology Certification System (NSPCS) by NASP leadership. This article briefly traces the history of the NSPCS from the efforts that occurred in the late 1980s to develop this national credential, recent changes to renewal requirements, the development of the…

After more than 36 years as a teacher and school psychologist, the author decided that it was time for her to retire at the end of last school year (2011-2012). She spent her career as school psychologist trying to make a difference in the lives of the children and families that she served. But before she retired her WISC test kit, stopwatch, and…

The National Association of School Psychologists (NASP) established a policy in 1989 mandating a national study of the field every 5 years. The purpose of the studies was to generate a comprehensive description of the field of school psychology across the United States, as well as to allow for analyses of changes in the field over time. The first…

The 2011 elections are complete and Amy Smith has been elected to lead NASP in 2012. Amy has a long history of serving her state and national professional organizations, most recently as NASP program manager for advocacy and before that as the Pennsylvania delegate and Northeast Region delegate representative. She served the Association of School…

A public health crisis is looming in US schools. Millions of children do not receive mental health services, are poorly bonded to supportive educational communities, and fail to develop important social and emotional competencies. Considering these problems, many of which relate to students' school functioning, efforts are needed to support…

Everything in educational policy reform today in some way connects to student outcomes. In an effort to help school psychologists advocate more effectively for their services, NASP created "School Psychologists: Improving Student and School Outcomes" that links NASP policy, practice, and research with student outcomes. This document is organized…

This article reports on the National Association of School Psychologists's (NASP) recently concluded elections in which Philip Lazarus from Florida and Ronald Benner from Connecticut will now be part of the NASP Executive Council in July 2010 as president-elect and treasurer, respectively. NASP members voted at the highest levels in 6 years and…

This article provides information related to organizing a grassroots lobbying effort within a state association and working for the passage of a bill. This information resulted from experience working for the successful passage of the pay parity bill for nationally certified school psychologists in West Virginia during the 2008 legislative…

Looking back over 40 years, much has changed and much has not changed in the field of school psychology and in the National Association of School Psychologists (NASP). This article presents the author's opinions and recollections on school psychology and NASP which do not necessarily represent those of NASP or the many leaders with whom he has…

After a nationwide search, the NASP PREPaRE Workgroup recently invited Brian Lazzaro, Christina Conolly-Wilson, and Melinda Susan to join the workgroup. This was done in an attempt to meet the ever-increasing demand and associated duties that accompany the dissemination of the PREPaRE Crisis Prevention and Intervention Training Curriculum. In this…

In the February 2008 issue of "Communique", Miller, DeOrnellas, and Maricle raised the question: Is it time for National Association of School Psychologists (NASP) to recognize subspecialties? Based on the literature and emerging trends in the field, Miller and others argued for the need to recognize subspecialization; however, empirical data to…

The economic downturn is hitting schools hard, and in many places, school psychologists are seeing positions cut, services limited, and roles redefined. At the same time, the need for prevention and intervention services is skyrocketing as children, families, and staff suffer the effects of lost incomes, homes, and stability. Forces that may seem…

Granting awards to recognize outstanding service and leadership is among the more important functions of professional associations. The School Psychologist of the Year Award (SPYA) is one of several national-level recognitions. Although NASP's annual SPYA dates only to 1991, several state associations were already granting such distinctions. Their…

A commitment to social justice is integral to being an effective school psychologist. While social justice is a term that is not easily defined, professionals in school psychology have characterized it as the idea that all students are entitled to be treated with fairness and respect. Though individual conceptions of social justice may vary, a…

The topic of social justice is not new to dialogue and research within disciplines that serve children, such as education and psychology. The commitment to social justice within the fields of education and psychology is evidenced by the attention that their organizations--the American Educational Research Association (AERA) and the American…