I.  Purpose of PPI Graduate Student Grant

This opportunity provides financial support for school psychology graduate students to attend the NASP Public Policy Institute in Washington DC. The goal of the PPI is to enhance school psychologists’ knowledge, skills, and strategies to advocate for critical policies and programs in education. 

II.  Eligibility

Eligible applicants include members of ASPP who are currently school psychology graduate students in an approved school psychology graduate program in Pennsylvania.

III.  Expenses

Funding will cover the cost of travel to Washington DC, lodging (at the NASP-selected hotel), and registration. Attendees will be expected to cover their own meals and any other expenses incurred. 

V.  Application

Applications must include the following information:

• Contact information, including name, organizational affiliation, email address, physical address, and phone number.
• Confirmation of ASPP membership.
• Confirmation of availability to attend NASP Public Policy Institute (see NASP website for specific dates and additional details),
• Brief (500-1000 words maximum) summary answering the following question: Describe your interest and/or prior experience with social justice and advocacy work, as well as your future goals in these areas as aligned with the NASP Practice Model. Then, explain how you will utilize the Public Policy Institute to increase or enhance your future social justice and advocacy efforts.

VI.   Evaluation Criteria

All applications will be evaluated by each member of the ASPP Review Committee, according to the PPI Funding Evaluation Rubric. Applications will be evaluated based on three criteria: (1) students’ overall interest in advocacy and social justice, including prior experience, as it pertains to NASP Practice Model, (2) Students’ goals for advocacy and social justice, and (3) Students potential growth from the PPI experience.

VII. Submission Instructions and Notification of Advocacy Academy Attendance

Requests for PPI funding are reviewed once per year.  Completed applications are due by midnight Eastern Time on May 20th annually. Applications can be submitted by clicking the Submit an Application link on this webpage. Committee decisions will be communicated to the applicant within three weeks of the submission deadline.

VIII. Follow-up

Within 60 days of PPI attendance, the recipient must submit a brief summary (500 words maximum) of his/her experience and the impact it had on his/her approach to school psychology.  The recipient may be asked to submit a brief summary of the experience to be featured in the ASPP InSight publication.