Stay Tuned...

Trainer Dr. Matt Burns returning to Kansas.

Following the overwhelmingly positive reception given to Dr. Burns initial RTI workshops in Kansas during 2008, he will be returning in fall 2010 for a advanced follow-up training! Details to be announced this summer.

PREPaRE training in Kansas

We're pleased to announce that, following the capacity workshop in June 2009, PREPaRE training will again be available on at least one occasion in 2010. The anticipated location is ESU, and dates will be in late June. Details TBA on website and newsletter in late spring, and will be emailed to all members once registration opens.

NCSP Parity in Kansas, 2009 edition

A KASP committee worked hard to get a bill before the Kansas legislature in spring 2008, to provide stipends for school psychologists with the NCSP. An identical bill for board-certified teachers passed recently, so this attempts to establish parity for our profession. In February it had sponsorship by education committee member Barbara Craft (Kansas House Republican District 65), to go up for a vote this session. Click here to see HB2869. Chairman Aurand did not bring the bill up for a hearing during that session because of fiscal constraints.

In February 2009, KASP members and other parties were invited to offer testimony about HB2869 to the House Education Committee, which (given the fiscal crisis) is holding that bill in committee. We'll update you when it is again acted upon.

Contact Us

Webmaster Jim Persinger at jpersing@emporia.edu with general questions.

Or for membership or other business-related questions, email executive manager Keely Persinger at keelypersinger@yahoo.com

KASP ADVOCACY DAY

TOPEKA

March 16, 2010

School psychologists are a critical part of the school team that ensures quality, genuinely accessible education and mental health services for all students in Kansas. This is one of our state’s most important responsibilities and wisest investments. With this in mind, please join KASP Board Members in advocating for Kansas children’s education and mental health services.

Agenda:

8:00-8:45 Gather to discuss our plan and review talking points

Ramada Inn Hotel/Restaurant

420 SE 6th Avenue

I-70 West, Exit 362B-E

Topeka, Kansas

9-11:00 Topeka Capital Building to meet with Senators and Representatives

11:30-12:30 Re-meet for discussion at Ramada Inn

Taking points will be provided; however, you are encouraged to contact your local Senator and Representative to make appointments to meet personally with them that morning.

Make plans now to join us in advocating for

Kansas children

If you have questions or need additional information, please contact

a KASP board member

Click here to download this information as a flyer

Other Announcements:

3.1.10: Spring 2010 Newsletter Available

It was emailed to the address we have on file for you in the database. If it didn't reach you, please check to assure that your email software these two emails in its "trust" list: jpersing@emporia.edu and keelypersinger@yahoo.com. Also please send an email to one of these addresses, with your current email address, and we'll make sure the entry in our database is correct.

You can download a .pdf copy by clicking here.

2.20.10: Outcome of APA's MLA Vote

Today, the following language was passed by the APA’s Council of Representatives (CoR).

"This language acknowledges that State Education Agencies credential and title practitioners who work in the schools (that may or may not hold a doctoral degree) and acknowledges that State Boards of Psychology credentials practitioners for independent practice (where a doctoral degree is required). Nothing in this act shall be construed to prevent (cite relevant state education authority or statutory provisions) from credentialing individuals to provide school psychological services in those settings that are under the purview of the state education agency. Such individuals shall be restricted in their practice and the use of the title so conferred, which must include the word "school", to employment within those settings.

This provision is not intended to restrict the activities of licensed psychologists."

2.12.10: Changes to the NCSP requirements for renewal

The National School Psychology Certification Board met last month to consider responses from holders of the NCSP designation regarding the new NASP CPD requirement for renewal. After carefully weighing the current economic conditions, the availability of NASP-approved CPD across the country, and the constraints on many LEAs, as well as the Board’s commitment to ensure quality CPD for NCSPs, the Board choose to scale back the planned increase in the number of approved CPD hours in future years. It was decided to maintain the requirement at 10 NASP- or APA-approved CPD credits per renewal cycle for the time being

2.05.10: NASP Webinar information now available

As referenced in the news on 2/4, information about how to register for the NASP webinars is now available. Click here.

2.04.10: Latest update about APA's Model Language Act

See the link below if you need a refresher on the importance of the MLA issue and to access an overview.

As you know, APA’s Council of Representatives will consider adopting the final draft of the Model Act for State Licensure of Psychologists (MLA) at their meeting in Washington, DC on February 19 – 21. If adopted in its current form, this MLA would allow use of the title “school psychologist” by those who are certified by their state education agency and hold doctoral degrees, but would restrict its use by those who do not hold doctoral degrees. Read more about this issue and what you can do....

1.19.10: Breaking News about APA's Model Language Act

We'd first brought this to your attention at the opening of the 2007 conference, during which which provided legislative action kits to help advocate for the title of "School Psychologist" in Kansas. For a refresher on the nature of the Model Language Act and its implications, you'll find an excellent overview here.

NASP President Patti Harrison just provided this brief to help you understand the current situation. We'll keep you informed of developments as they occur over the next few weeks.

1.12.10: KASP Conference Materials Available.

Did you notice that, if you go to the conferences and events link above, you can access most of the key materials made available during the 2009 conference?

1.12.10: Missouri Association of School Psychologists Training Opportunity on March 12th.

The Missouri Association of School Psychologists is holding a one-day spring conference on March 12th in Independence MO, just outside the Kansas City area. They have extended an invitation to KASP members to join them at the MASP rate of only $75! Details on topic, time, date, and location are in this brochure.

1.10.10: KASP Winter Newsletter Available for Download.

This was sent to you at the email address you entered when you last renewed registration. If you didn't receive that email, please select the membership link, choose sign up, tell it your last name, and it will give you the chance to check/update your info. Even if you're already renewed membership this year, clicking the "sign up" feature will not "double enroll" you or anything: just skip the step where it asks you to remit dues. You might also want to make sure that you put in your "trust list" for email the addresses of keelypersinger@yahoo.com and jpersing@emporia.edu: Official KASP communications to members almost always will come from those two addresses.

Click here to download KASP Winter Newsletter.

11.20.09: Kansas Governor Mark Parkinson Proclaims Kansas School Psychology Week

A large contingent of KASP members attended the signing ceremony in November

9.22.09: KASP Fall 09 Newsletter Available for Download.

Download Fall 09 Newsletter Here.

Congratulations to

Bob Clark, awarded in 2009 the KASP Lifetime Achievement Award.

What follows is a partial transcript of the award announcement as given by Bob's colleague Early Hoyt, himself a former KASP President and long-serving board member:

Bob has defended and challenged the Topeka School Psychologists to be leaders in the field. He strove to make our home base a pleasant place of renewal and encouragement since he believed that we weren’t going to find much understanding in the ‘field.” He dedicated the first 45 minuets of department meetings to a time when we could share anything in our professional or personal lives that caused us to feel at home and to bond with our colleagues. The School Psychology department in Topeka has been perhaps the happiest and best run department in the district for many years.

Bob graduated from the College of Emporia in 1970 with a Bachlor’s degree in Psychology. In 1975 Bob was awarded an Ed.S. degree in School Psychology from KU. Bob worked as a school psychologist from 1976 to 1979 in the Topeka Public school. In 1979 Bob was made the School Psychology Department Coordinator for Topeka Public schools; a job which he held until his retirement in 2009.

...Bob may have been one of the first, if not the first recipient of the School Psychologist of the Year awards in 1986. Prior to that Bob had served as KASP president in 1979. During the 1990’s I remember Bob saying that he felt like running for president again, which he did in 1997, as if he didn’t already have enough other stuff going on. I always remember Bob talking about the enjoyment that he had in being involved with KASP. He saw it as a place where we could celebrate School Psychology purely without the encumbrances of job requirements and politics. Bob also served a number of terms as treasurer and manager of the WEB. Bob was also involved with NASP in that he served as Kansas State delegate for two terms, co-chaired computer and technology applications in school psychology interest group, and served on the convention site-selection committee.

The first significantly big project with which I worked with Bob was in regard to development of a crisis intervention strategy for the Topeka Schools. Bob patiently and successfully lobbied the administration on the need to develop plans and procedures for responding to deaths that occurred within schools, homicides and suicides. ...The concept of the crisis team grew to finally an eight member supervisory team that covered just about everything from nursing, to operations, to dealing with the media. Bob served as the Mental Health Services Representative on that team.

In addition to supervising 22 psychologists, Bob developed and managed a computerized accountability program for our department that he has shared with other districts. Bob developed, implemented and coordinated a web-enabled IEP system. Bob coordinated Mandt training for employees. ...And during all this time served as the principal, or rather person in charge at the Holland Education Center with 135 support staff.

Bob served as a team member on over thirty KSDE compliance-monitoring visitations across the state, and ...received and managed a three year $400,000+ grant through Safe and Caring Schools to prevent school violence. Served on KSD Task Forces for Learning Disabilities, Interrelated, Gifted, and Test Selection. Served on the Kansas Suicide Prevention Steering Committee... Appointed by the Kansas Commissioner of Education to a three-year term on the Comprehensive System of Personnel Development State Committee (twice).

In his “free” time Bob served on the adjunct faculty of Pittsburg state University from 1997 to 2002 by teaching a required course on Legal Issues in Special Education. He was appointed by the Mayor of Topeka to serve on Shawnee County’s youth suicide prevention task force. Bob was a volunteer phone responder for Topeka’s Suicide Hotline. Bob volunteered as a respite caregiver for the Topeka Hospice.

Bob volunteered as a camp counselor for Hospice summer program for families. He served as an educational advocate and was the Topeka area trainer for advocates through SRS and Families Together.

Sincerest congratulations, Bob!

Our mission:

KASP exists to advocate for the psychological and educational well-being of Kansas Children, while serving the needs of the membership and promoting school psychology as a profession.

We Are a NASP-Approved CPD Provider.

School psychologists who hold the NCSP have long been required to engage in activities designed to maintain, expand, and extend their professional training and skills. Beginning with renewals in January 2010, NCSP's must obtain one-third of their documented professional development from a NASP-Approved provider. We're happy to report that this fall, KASP became one of the first professional organizations to receive from NASP the "Approved Provider" status. This means that for most professional development opportunities we offer or help sponsor, NCSP's may use this documented experience to meet the CPD requirement. We'll provide the suitable documentation at these events.

NASP Affiliate

We are an affiliate (and one of the founders!) of the National Association of School Psychologists.