Bethesda, MD—The National Association of School Psychologists (NASP) is calling on Congress to take decisive action following federal rollbacks that threaten public education, including significant staff reductions at the U.S. Department of Education. In a letter to Congressional leadership, NASP warned that weakening federal education infrastructure could undermine student support services, technical assistance, critical data collection and reporting, and legal protections for students and families, including students with disabilities.
“Federal investments and oversight are essential to ensuring every child has access to a quality education,” said Kelly Vaillancourt Strobach, NASP Director of Policy and Advocacy. “Dismantling these supports without a clear plan to maintain the Department of Education’s core functions threatens student well-being, weakens accountability, and hinders ongoing efforts to address the shortage of school-based mental health professionals, including school psychologists.”
Specifically, NASP is calling on Congress to:
- Preserve and increase federal investments in public education as part of FY26 appropriations.
- Strengthen oversight of the Department of Education to ensure compliance with federal laws and timely technical assistance.
- Support legislation that protects students’ rights and maintains equitable access to high-quality public education.
NASP remains committed to working with lawmakers to safeguard public education and ensure that all students have the resources they need to thrive at school, at home, and throughout life. You can read the full letter to Congressional leadership here.
###
About NASP
The National Association of School Psychologists (NASP) is a professional association representing more than 25,000 school psychologists, graduate students, and related professionals throughout the United States and in an additional 25 countries worldwide. As the world’s largest organization of school psychologists, NASP works to advance effective practices to improve students’ learning, behavior, and mental health. Our vision is that all children and youth thrive in school, at home, and throughout life. Further information is available at www.nasponline.org
