While CASP’s preference is always to share space and build community together, due to a combination of factors, it has been decided to have an online-only Convention. The online Convention platform includes many different mechanisms for attendee interaction and networking, and it ensures that all your favorite convention features, like signature workshops, poster presentations, and exhibit halls, will have a digital counterpart! The entire event space will be accessible to convention-goers from November 1st to December 31st, and live events will occur on November 2nd, 4th, 10th, and 12th. CASP thanks you for your patience and understanding as they continue to work out further details for what’s sure to be a memorable experience, and stay tuned this month for registration details.
New! CASP Professional Learning Committee
CASP has a new committee this year called Professional Learning, chaired by Terri Foster (LEP and school psychologist with Hemet Unified School District). As CASP’s esteemed new President has said, “This is the year to unite, collaborate and move forward.” More than ever, we need to come together as a group so that we can better support students, teachers and families. Terri has the following message for you: “For Professional Learning, we really want to support your needs for ongoing training in the areas of online/virtual assessments, crisis counseling, social justice, and self-care. We would like to provide 1-2 virtual webinars per month but want to hear from you as to your needs. Please let me know what you would like us to focus on this year (and in coming years). If you know of good speakers, please let me know and we’ll do our best to schedule with them. There will be no webinars in November or December of 2020, as this is when our virtual convention will be held. I look forward to working with everyone. You can reach me at [email protected]. Hang in there everyone!”
Surveys
Take this >10 min survey to help evaluate chronic and acute stress response to COVID-19 in students ages 11 years and older, plus adults. This survey is being used to norm a universal screening measure that is applicable to today’s student and school staff experience. With universal screeners normed pre-COVID-19, we risk over-identifying students with social-emotional duress and atypicality. The CASS survey would offer universal screening with the intent to identify stress response, severity, and in-home recommendations to target elevated stress response in students and education staff. This is a globally proactive approach to intervention and universal screening. The COVID-19 CASS Screener will be made available at a low cost to schools this fall.
You are also invited to participate in a 14 question survey studying school psychologists’ perceived level of mental health training and preparedness to provide mental health services to the special education population as mandated by the mental health Assembly Bill 114 (AB 114) upon graduating from their school psychology program.
Assessments & Back to School CASP Update
As of August 4, 2020, the federal government has not waived the federal requirements under the IDEA. The California Department of Education (CDE) and State Board of Education (SBE) are working with the US Department of Education (USDOE) to determine what flexibilities or waivers may be issued in light of the extraordinary circumstances. At this time, Congress has not passed any additional waiver authority concerning the Free and Appropriate Public Education (FAPE) and Least Restrictive Environment (LRE) requirements of IDEA, reiterating that learning must continue for all students during the COVID-19 national emergency. Given this information, CASP understands that school psychologists feel the pressure of a tsunami building related to assessment responsibilities.
August Nomination Deadline for CASP Awards
Now is the time to start thinking about your nominees for CASP’s 2020 awards and grant opportunities. Due to Covid-19, the application deadlines for all awards (except the Michael Goodman) have been extended until August 31, 2020. You can read more about the awards and how to make a nomination here.
Connect with your Students – from afar!
