Legislative News
mspa.legislative@gmail.comMLA update: Good news for all school psychologists
Dear MSPA members,
The following is an update on the outcome regarding the school psychologist exemption in APA’s newly adopted Model Act for State Licensure of Psychologists (MLA). I am very pleased to tell you that after a 3-year campaign to protect the rights of MSPA members to call ourselves school psychologists, we have prevailed! On February 20, 2010, “the APA Council of Representatives voted to retain the right of both specialist and doctoral level school psychologists credentialed by state education agencies to use the title ‘school psychologist’.” (Quote from Patti Harrison, NASP President)
I am very proud of the members and leaders of MSPA who worked very hard to make this happen. Over the last three years our NASP delegate, Nick Silvestri, worked with the Legislative Committee (Chaired by: Jennifer Coniglio and Mara Egorin- 2006/2007, Stephanie Livesay 2007/2008 and 2008/2009, and Shira Reicher 2009/2010) to secure many letters of support from state and local leaders so that school psychologists could retain their title and practice in school systems. In addition, Legislative Committee members, MSPA Board members, and the general membership alike worked on a campaign in their respective school systems to get practicing school psychologists to write letters of support as well. Thank you goes to all of those who participated in this MLA endeavor. We should be very proud of the work we've done together! What a way to celebrate our 50th Anniversary!
Today, as always, I am very proud to be a member of MSPA!
Stephanie E. Livesay
MSPA President
The following is an update on the outcome regarding the school psychologist exemption in APA’s newly adopted Model Act for State Licensure of Psychologists (MLA). I am very pleased to tell you that after a 3-year campaign to protect the rights of MSPA members to call ourselves school psychologists, we have prevailed! On February 20, 2010, “the APA Council of Representatives voted to retain the right of both specialist and doctoral level school psychologists credentialed by state education agencies to use the title ‘school psychologist’.” (Quote from Patti Harrison, NASP President)
I am very proud of the members and leaders of MSPA who worked very hard to make this happen. Over the last three years our NASP delegate, Nick Silvestri, worked with the Legislative Committee (Chaired by: Jennifer Coniglio and Mara Egorin- 2006/2007, Stephanie Livesay 2007/2008 and 2008/2009, and Shira Reicher 2009/2010) to secure many letters of support from state and local leaders so that school psychologists could retain their title and practice in school systems. In addition, Legislative Committee members, MSPA Board members, and the general membership alike worked on a campaign in their respective school systems to get practicing school psychologists to write letters of support as well. Thank you goes to all of those who participated in this MLA endeavor. We should be very proud of the work we've done together! What a way to celebrate our 50th Anniversary!
Today, as always, I am very proud to be a member of MSPA!
Stephanie E. Livesay
MSPA President
Model Licensure Act Fact Sheet - Read about actions taken by MSPA members and supporters to defeat removal of the school psychology exemption.
Maryland’s Health Occupations Act regarding licensure of psychologists is derived in large part from the "Model Act for State Licensure" of the American Psychological Association (APA). This document contains a "school psychologist exemption" However, the APA is proposing removal of the exemption. If the new APA Model Licensure Act removes this exemption, the APA would encourage states, including Maryland, to eliminate the school psychologist exemption from state law. This would mean that only licensed psychologists could provide psychological services to Maryland students, and prevent well trained and fully qualified school psychologists from doing so.
Get involved in the campaign to save school psychology. Make your voice heard by acting now. It is vital that school psychologists help MSPA provide feedback to APA prior to the deadline of June 5, 2009. We hope that not only will the school psychologists in every Maryland school district access the NASP website and provide comments to APA, but that they will contact other key supporters of school psychologists, such as, teachers, PTAs, parents, students, social workers, counselors, etc. Every letter counts, so we have provided sample letters for various individuals in your districts. We have also appointed an MLA contact in each district who can help you in the process. Also included in the documents is a procedure for accessing APA's website to give input for individuals who are not school psychologists. Please e-mail Stephanie Livesay at selives a-t hotmail d-o-t com if you have any questions about joining in the campaign to save school psychology. You can e-mail Shira Reicher at Shira.Reicher a-t gmail d-o-t com to find the name of your district's MLA contact person. The MLA contact person is coordinating the effort to get support from individuals in your system, such as, Superintendents, Union Presidents, Directors of Special Education, Directors of Student Services, etc.
Read the Model Licensure Act Fact Sheet for more information.
Download the sample letters (director of special education, director of student services, teachers’ union, administrators, school psychologist, teachers, parents, graduate students - all included as Word documents in a .zip file).
Download a Word document that provides specific instructions for completing the online APA submission form.
Read the letter from MSPA president, Pam McCoy, to the APA CEO, Norman Anderson.
Read the letter from the Carroll County Director of Student Services.
MSPA Annual Legislative Day
Each year MSPA members spend a day in Annapolis visiting legislators and talking with them about issues of concern to our members. This is a fun and important activity in which all members can participate. Watch the 4 minute video of this year's legislative day and join us next year in Annapolis.
This page provides information on bills that are of particular interest to MSPA. Maryland General Assembly maintains a web site that provides bill information and status details. Find your state legislators at this State of Maryland web site.
Send a message to your elected official about issues of importance to school psychology. Just click on the following link, http://capwiz.com/naspweb/home/. At this site you can craft your own letter or use one of the pre-made letters with issues of interest to school psychologists. You just have to provide your name and address and the computer will locate your elected officials and guide you through the rest.
