National Association of School Psychologists

National Association of School Psychologists
Name	National Association of School Psychologists
Abbreviation	NASP
Formation	1969
Headquarters	Bethesda, Maryland
Membership	school psychologists, graduate students, related professionals
Leader title	Executive Director

National Association of School Psychologists is a professional association representing specialists in school psychology in the United States and internationally. It provides standards, advocacy, training, and resources for practitioners who work in K–12 settings, collaborating with stakeholders across federal, state, and local levels. The association interfaces with a range of education, health, and legal institutions to influence policy, credentialing, and research translation.

History

The association was formed amid the social and legislative changes of the late 1960s and early 1970s, a period marked by the passage of landmark statutes such as the Education for All Handicapped Children Act and the evolution of professional organizations like the American Psychological Association and the National Education Association. Early leaders and constituent groups drew on precedents set by entities including the Council for Exceptional Children and the American Speech-Language-Hearing Association to shape service delivery in schools. Throughout the 1970s and 1980s the association responded to reforms triggered by the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act, the No Child Left Behind Act, and shifts in federal funding administered through agencies like the U.S. Department of Education and the Office for Civil Rights (United States Department of Education). Influences from academia — for example programs at University of Minnesota, University of Wisconsin–Madison, University of California, Los Angeles, and Peabody College — informed standards and training models. The association expanded roles during the 1990s and 2000s alongside developments in assessment instruments from publishers such as Pearson Education and Houghton Mifflin Harcourt, and continued to adapt amid the public health challenges spotlighted by events like the H1N1 pandemic and the COVID-19 pandemic.

Mission and Goals

The association's mission emphasizes professional standards, equitable access to services, and promotion of student mental health, reflecting priorities similar to those advocated by Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration, and the American Academy of Pediatrics. Goals include advancing best practices influenced by research institutes such as the National Institute of Mental Health and promoting legal compliance with rulings from the Supreme Court of the United States and guidance from the U.S. Department of Justice. The organization aligns with international standards set by groups like the International School Psychology Association and collaborates with professional societies such as the Society for Research in Child Development and the Association for Psychological Science.

Organization and Governance

A governing board and elected officers oversee operations, following governance models comparable to those of the American Educational Research Association and the Council of State Governments. Committees and task forces coordinate with state associations and regional networks similar to the National Association of Elementary School Principals and the National Association of Secondary School Principals. Executive staff often liaise with federal bodies including the U.S. Congress and the Government Accountability Office on policy matters. The organization hosts annual convention events featuring speakers from institutions like Harvard University, Stanford University, Johns Hopkins University, and Yale University.

Membership and Certification

Membership comprises practicing school psychologists, graduate students, and allied professionals; pathways and credentials intersect with licensure boards and certification systems such as state departments of education and credentialing models influenced by the National Association of School Nurses and the American Board of Professional Psychology. The association endorses training standards paralleling those published by Council for the Accreditation of Educator Preparation and certification frameworks echoing specialty recognition by the American Board of Professional Psychology. Collaboration occurs with graduate programs at institutions like University of Denver, University of Oregon, Temple University, and Michigan State University that prepare certificants.

Programs and Services

Programs include professional development, continuing education, crisis response, and technical assistance similar to offerings by the National Association of Social Workers and the National Council for Behavioral Health. Services extend to school-based consultation, consultation models developed in concert with researchers from Vanderbilt University, Columbia University, and University of Pennsylvania, and implementation supports for screening and intervention tools used in schools. The association provides training modules for topics highlighted in initiatives by Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services and public health campaigns from the World Health Organization.

Advocacy and Public Policy

Advocacy efforts focus on federal and state legislation affecting students with disabilities, mental health funding, and school safety. The association has engaged with congressional committees such as the United States House Committee on Education and Labor and the United States Senate Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions and has worked alongside coalitions including the National PTA, the Autism Society of America, and the Learning Disabilities Association of America. Policy positions address implementation of statutes like the Americans with Disabilities Act and programmatic funding streams administered by agencies such as the Health Resources and Services Administration.

Publications and Research

The association publishes peer-reviewed journals and practice guidelines that synthesize research from scholars affiliated with University of Michigan, University of Connecticut, University of Georgia, Boston College, and Rutgers University. Journals serve as outlets for studies on assessment, intervention, and school mental health, drawing on methodologies promoted by the American Educational Research Association and the Society for Prevention Research. Position statements and technical reports reference empirical evidence from sources like the National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine and federal research programs at the Institute of Education Sciences.

Category:Professional associations based in the United States Category:Psychology organizations