The 2010 application for the MSPA Minority Scholarship for Graduate Training in School Psychology is due April 1, 2010. You can download the application here, or from a banner on the student page.

The MSPA Spring Conference has been scheduled for Friday, May 21st. It will be held at the Sheraton Framingham Hotel once again given the positive feedback the Board received for the change in venue. The speaker will be Jim Wright of Intervention Central. Jim Wright is a school psychologist and school administrator from New York who has created a remarkable website. His presentation should be of considerable interest to members. Be sure to let your school colleagues know about the conference as well given the broad interest in evidence-based interventions in schools. More information will be forthcoming. Hold the date!

The MSPA fall conference was a great success The new setting was comfortable, efficient and appreciated by our Western Mass and Cape Cod members. Lucille Eber was an excellent speaker, convincing in her messages and clear in her step-by-step approach to meeting the needs of students with complex emotional/behavioral needs. The wrap-around process will fundamentally change the ways that school psychologists function in schools. On November 13th Positive Behavior Supports will be presented at the Sheraton in Norwood MA. (Contact the May Institute for more information about this presentation). Luceille Eber indicated that implementing a wrap-around service works better if PBS is already part of the school culture. Members of MSPA can access the promised materials on the Members Only website.

Massachusetts School Psychologists (MSPA) are taking on high stakes testing spearheaded by Louis Kruger, Psy.D., NCSP of Northeastern University. The goal is to reform MCAS in Massachusetts. Dr. Kruger and MSPA members have attended the Governor’s meetings with the public around the state. Support is needed to make a difference for children. You can help simply by visiting the following sites and spreading the concerns.

To view the Trailer of the film on Yahoo Video click here.

To view a video of the Public Hearing at the Massachusetts State House: Proposed Legislation to Reform the Use of the Massachusetts Comprehensive Assessment System (MCAS) on June, 23, 2009 click here

Read an MCAS blog by clicking here

Find a Twitter page about reforming MCAS at: reformMCAS.

You can help! Dr. Kruger asks us to please take a few minutes and go these sites. Encourage people to go these and link to these sites. The more people who go to these sites and link to these sites, the more visibility they will get in search engines, such as Google, and in turn the more attention they will get. It will also help to raise the visibility of school psychology in Massachusetts.

The FY 2010 budget approved by the House of Representatives has eliminated important programs that fund school mental health related programs and services. The cuts include the Mental Health Integration Grant Program ($6.9 million) and the Safe and Drug-Free Schools (SDFS) State Grants Program ($294.76 million). These cuts and reductions result in an overall reduction in school mental health spending of $357.5 million! These programs are often the first to be cut, while the need for mental health services increases. Consider calling your US Senators or send a letter to express concerns.