CRANE REPRESENTS OSPA AT NASP PUBLIC POLICY INSTITUTE

On February 6 through 8 in Washington, D.C. the NASP - Government and Professional Relations Committee convened it's 1st Public Policy Institute. It was held at the Sheraton City Centre Hotel in Washington as well as at our Nation's Capitol in House of Representatives conference rooms. Steve Crane, GPR Chair for OSPA and state SPAN (School Psychology Action Network) Coordinator, was asked to attend this institute by the Regional SPAN Coordinator and NASP Regional Director, Jennifer Kitson, as well as the NASP Legislative Liaison, Libby Kuffner. Debby Wheat, OSPA President-Elect, who was also invited, was unable to attend.

The Institute began on Sunday from 8:30 am to 6 p.m., with intensive legislative and advocacy training all day, The training was to prepare the some 100 participants representing 42 states for Congressional visits on Monday with both US Senators and Representatives. I visited Senator Nickles, Senator Inhofe, and Congressman Istook. I was able to meet Senator Nickles only briefly since he was attending the Impeachment trial but was impressed with his Legislative Associate for children's mental health, Megan Hauck, who was very receptive to our advocacy for Medicaid reform in eligibility for children not served, as well as educational issues involving the reauthorization of ESEA. The Elementary and Secondary Education Act must be re-authorized over the next two congressional sessions. The staff for Senator Inhofe and Congressman Istook were less than receptive to the NASP Legislative Agenda and, in fact, spent much time with me trying to convince me of the importance of state block grant funding and the voucher system of parent choice in public education. Nevertheless, I proceeded to advocate for children's needs even if it fell on deaf ears. I especially addressed the lack of services necessary for the academic and social success of students. In Sen. Inhofe's office I met with his Legislative Associate for Education, Tom Murray, and in Congressman Istook's office I met with Dr. William Duncan, Appropriation Committee Associate, who was well-versed in law and very articulate but very conservative in his expression of what was needed in public education, which again focused on state funding coming through federal block grants and the availability of a voucher system for parents to access in choosing the public school they wish their child to attend. In respect to block grant funding, I think we have to be very strong in advocating for accountability of the states for spending federal dollars appropriately in meeting the needs of both the students and the schools, while at the same time giving the states some flexibility to address their particular priorities and positions.

All in all it was a very rewarding experience to participate in this Institute and I have much to share with the OSPA Executive Board as well as the membership of OSPA concerning advocacy training in the areas of public education and the mental health services for children. Thanks to OSPA for allowing me to represent you at this important and historic event.

Steven Crane , Government and Professional Relations Chair; Public Relations and Information Chair;

Oklahoma SPAN (School Psychology Action Network) Coordinator

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