For more information, contact:
legislative@mspaonline.org

MSPA's 5th Annual Legislative Day was a success! Please look for our article in the upcoming Protocol.

NASP ADVOCACY ACTION CENTER

NASP's Advocacy Action Center provides members with important legislative updates and alerts. Through this website you can contact your legislators easily and simply. You may choose to use form letters or write your own.

Be a part of the One Minute Solution!

http://capwiz.com/naspweb/home/

Contact your legislators through the following link http://mdelect.net/
Educate your legislator about school psychologists!

MSPA Legislative Committee 2010-2011 Summary

The National Association of School Psychologists’ (NASP) website states that “engaging in advocacy on behalf of children, their families, and the profession of school psychology is the responsibility of the association as well as every NASP member and leader”  (Retrieved from http://www.nasponline.org/advocacy/index.aspx). The Maryland School Psychologists’ Association (MSPA) has taken on the responsibility to use all resources available to advocate for the children and families of Maryland, for whom we serve, in addition to the profession.

The 2010-2011 legislative session was an exciting one. MSPA continues to forge relationships with stakeholders and local politicians. This year the committee reached a record-breaking high with almost 30 members. A special “Thank You” to the following members for their valuable contributions:

Judi Amick, Kimberly Bean, Gavin Craig, Tina Deforge, Bill Flook, Shideka Heath, Stephanie Livesay, Amy Manner, Pam McCoy, Jessica Munch, Mary Beth Pinnell, Christina New, Courtnay Oatts, Michelle Palmer, Jessica Sammons, Laura Sass, Nick Silvestri, Jaclyn Standeven, Kerri Stivers, Tina Wachter, and Shauna Yockel.

Advocacy Letter-Writing Campaign, October 2010: Over 50 letters were written and submitted in an effort to reach out to local legislators. At the Fall MSPA Conference, attendees wrote letters explaining the role of the school psychologist and the state of education in their school system.  This project was created as a result of learned Grass Roots Advocacy Tips (see below).

4th Annual Legislative Day, January 2011, Annapolis, MD: Over 70 legislators and their staff members attended MSPA’s 4th Annual  Legislative Day. MSPA hosted a brunch for state officials and made office visits to provide legislators and their staff with information on “What is a School Psychologist” and relevant issues to the field.

Letters of Support for Local Bills (sample bills):

· SB 116/HB 55: The Religious Freedom & Civil Marriage Protection Act  (passed in the Senate; sent back to committee in the House)

· SB 489/HB 38: Nonpublic Schools Accepting State Funds-Bullying Harassment and Intimidation Policies (passed)

· SB 772/HB 79: Task Force to Study the Creation of a Maryland Center for School Safety (passed w/ amendment)

· HB 168: The Student Health and Fitness Act

Letter of Opposition:

      · SB 594/HB 1019: Child Abuse and Neglect-Reasonable Corporal Punishment-Definition and Limitations (voted down in the House committee)

Grass Roots Advocacy Check List

YOU can make a difference to school psychologists and educators everywhere through strategic contact with your legislators

Check off the steps you will take to make a difference in this next legislative session:

• Write your legislator (where you live and work) a personalized letter about how they can make a difference on issues that are important to you, school psychologists, and your school system. 
  
  
• Write to legislators working on the bills you are interested in as well as your local legislators.
  
  
•  Send follow up correspondence (a letter, e-mail, or note) to let the legislator know that you appreciate his or her support and that you are monitoring his or her policy decisions. Offer yourself as a resource. As a school psychologist, you are a knowledgeable person working on the frontlines of important education, school mental health, and developmental issues affecting students across the state. 
  
  
• Encourage coworkers, friends, and family members to write to their legislators on the same issues that concern you and our field. 
  
  
• Volunteer for campaigns and talk about the issues with candidates when you have the opportunity. The more familiar your legislators are with you, the better! 
  
  
•  Vote!

Legislative Timeline:

September-December: Get your legislator’s attention during fall months when they are getting ready for the next session and learning about key issues. Build a relationship with them so they know what issues you care about in the upcoming session.

January-March: During the 90-day session legislators are very busy and may not be able to give you attention. Contact your legislators when important issues arise that affect you, your school system, and school psychologists.

Tips for Effective Grass Roots Communication:

Before sitting down to write or talk to your legislator, make sure to:

Gather the facts on the issue you want him or her to support.
It’s often a numbers game for legislators and they want data that shows them they can affect more than just one person in one school in their District. (For example, “Eighty percent of the students in my school receive free and reduced lunch and are considered at-risk.”)

Gather anecdotal information that helps he or she connect to the issues.
This helps them put names to issues, data, and reform ideas. (For example, “Meet Johnny Smith. Johnny was diagnosed with an Intellectual Disability when he was six years old…”)

Customize your message to the legislator.
Review your legislator’s bio online and connect him or her to your issue personally through shared interests, activities, and experience. You do not want to waste your legislator’s time writing about something in which he or she may already be an expert.

Give your legislator information that says why he or she should care about your vote.

1. Indicate that you are the same party as the legislator (if this is true).

2. Indicate that you are a constituent and a regular voter.

3. Indicate the number of people in your household and the number of other voters in their district with whom you have regular contact.

4. Indicate what your job title is and whether you work in public or private schools.

 

For more information, visit the
Maryland School Psychologists' Association Facebook Group http://www.facebook.com/#!/group.php?gid=218376105332