Updates & Articles

Are you interested in advocating for school psychologists in Delaware? Please join us for a virtual meeting on November 9th at 7pm. RSVP to Courtney Chasko (courtney.chasko@irsd.k12.de.us) or Eric Pizzini (eric.pizzini@redclay.k12.de.us) by November 8th.

As you may know, the Elementary and Secondary Education Act is being reauthorized. We need your help to preserve some very important provisions regarding school-based mental health programs, which also includes maintaining an explicit definition of ‘school psychologist’ and funding for school-based mental health providers/programs!!

It is important that the legislation includes the following provisions :

§ 4301, authorizing the Elementary and Secondary School Counseling Program;

§ 2103(b)(4)(K), allowing Local Education Agencies to use Title II funds to ensure that school personnel are able to identify and support children with trauma history and children at risk for mental illness;

§ 1113(c)(2)(F)(ii)(III)(aa), allowing funds for school-wide programs in targeted assistance schools to be used for counseling, school based mental health programs, specialized instructional support services, and mentoring services;

§ 4103(c)(3)(B)(ii), allowing State Education Agencies to use Title IV funds to assist local education agencies to expand access to school based counseling and mental health resources;

§ 4103(c)(3)(B)(ix), allowing State Education Agencies to use Title IV funds to design and implement evidence based mental health awareness training programs.

DASP has responded by signing on to a letter NASP is organizing for state and national organizations.  Now, we need your help by individually responding via sending a letter to our legislators.  Please click the link below to send a letter that NASP graciously generated for us.  It is VERY easy to send a letter to all 3 DE representatives...all it takes is entering your personal information and clicking a few buttons; the letter is pre-written.  Please consider taking a few minutes to help keep important school-based mental health supports in the ESEA!!  

From NASP:

This letter mirrors a Dear Colleague Letter being circulated in the House and the Senate by Senator Franken, Senator Ayotte, and Representative Clark.   http://cqrcengage.com/naspweb/app/write-a-letter?3&engagementId=132179 

Early Career Professional Group

DASP is starting an Early Career Professional Group. that will meet approximately every other month (November, January, March, May, and July) to have a book study or guest speakers. Although this is targeted at school psychologists early in their careers, the group is open to anyone who is interested! We are also looking for volunteers to help facilitate some of these discussions.

To kick off this new series, we will be starting with a book study of Ordinary Magic:  Resilience in Development  by Ann S. Masten.  This is how Barnes & Noble describes the book, "Ann S. Masten explores what allows certain individuals to thrive and adapt despite adverse circumstances, such as poverty, chronic family problems, or exposure to trauma. Coverage encompasses the neurobiology of resilience as well as the role of major contexts of development: families, schools, and culture. Identifying key protective factors in early childhood and beyond, Masten provides a cogent framework for designing programs to promote resilience."

This first meeting will occur right before the Membership Dinner on Monday 11/9/15 at Dover Downs.  The exact time and other details will be announced soon.

If you are interested in meeting on 11/9 to discuss Ordinary Magic, please RSVP to Teri Lawler at teri.lawler@redclay.k12.de.us.   If you are interested in volunteering to facilitate a future book study or be a guest speaker, please also email Teri. 

It's School Psychology Awareness Week!  The State of Delaware has officially recognized School Psychology Awareness Week as occurring from November 10th to November 14th, 2014.  

NASP's theme this year is Strive. Grow. THRIVE!  Please visit their website for many resources and activity ideas.  What are you doing to celebrate School Psychology Awareness Week in your school district?

The Committee to Advance Educator Compensation & Careers (CAECC) is designing a new compensation system for educators.   In short, this CAECC Task Force is charged with revamping the way teachers are paid in Delaware.  The plan is due on the Governor's desk by November 15.  

 

Town hall meetings will be held at several locations across the state next week. An overview of the proposed plan will be presented along with time for a Q&A session. Please consider attending one or more of the session listed below.  The times and dates of the session are included below:

 

MONDAY, OCTOBER 27^TH  for Sussex County

• 4:00 – 5:30 at the  Lewes Public Library, 111 Adams Ave., Lewes, DE 19958

 

• 6:30 – 8:00 at the Sussex County Chambers, 2 The Circle, Georgetown, DE 19947

 

TUESDAY, OCTOBER 28^th for Kent County

• 5:30 to 7:00 at the Dover Public Library, 35 E. Loockerman St., Dover, DE 19901

 

WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 29^th for New Castle County

• 4:00 – 5:30 at the Bear Public Library, 101 Governor’s Place, Bear, DE 19701

 

• 6:30 – 8:00 at the 2^nd Floor Auditorium, Carvel Building, 820 N. French St., Wilmington 19801 

 

If after this town hall you're interested in participating further, consider attending another workshop in Dover. The purpose of these meetings will be for us to provide suggestions and feedback. The dates of the workshops are listed below:

 

MONDAY, NOVEMBER 3^rd   from 5:30 to 7:30 p.m.   

 

MONDAY, NOVEMBER 10^th  from 5:30 to 7:30 p.m.   

 

And finally, feel free to attend the official task force meetings, which are open to the public. State lawmakers and policymakers sit on this committee and will ultimately be charged with making a recommendation to the Governor for his 2015-16 budget. The dates and locations of the task force are listed below and there is time at each meeting for public comment:

 

THURSDAY, OCTOBER 30^th from  5:00-7:00 - Townsend Bldg./ 2^nd floor Board Room, Dover  

MONDAY, NOVERMBER 3^rd from 2:30-4:30 - location TBD

WEDNESDAY, NOVEMBER 12^th from 5:00-7:00 - location TBD

TUESDAY, NOVEMBER 18^th  from 5:00-7:00 - Townsend Bldg./ 2^nd floor Board Room

 

If you have any questions about these upcoming meetings please email us at (Gabrielle.Koury@redclay.k12.de.us) or  (jaclyn.purcell@redclay.k12.de.us).