Federal Legislation to Address the Critical Shortage of School Psychologists

This week, Senator Bill Nelson of Florida, spoke on the floor of the United States Senate about the importance of school psychologists, school counselors, and school social workers in improving student mental health and creating safe schools.  Importantly, Senator Nelson has introduced the Increasing Access to Mental Health in Schools Act.  This legislation, in recognition of the critcal shortage that currently exists, would provide grants to help create school/university partnerships to help train, recruit, and retain school based mental health service providers in high needs districts who are experiencing critical shortages.  Further, it directs the US Department of Education to 1) establish a loan forgiveness program for school based mental health service providers in low income agencies, and 2) to conduct a comprehensive study on the shortages of school psychologists, school counselors, and school social workers. 

Please ACT NOW and write your members of Congress urging them to support this critical legislation and help remedy the critical shortages of school psychologists.