Two years ago, the California Association of School Psychologists (CASP) were pleased to support AB 722, successfully authored by Assemblywoman Ellen Corbett, which requires the State Department of Education to conduct a study of pupil support, defined to include school counselors, school psychologists, and school social workers, in the schools and report the study to the Governor and the Legislature by January 1, 2003. The study shall include a determination of the proper ratio of student support personnel to students necessary to maintain adequate educational counseling services.

This year, CASP is supporting AB 660 (Corbett), which requires the State Department of Education to convene a voluntary working group for the purpose of developing a master plan for pupil support services.

The members of the working group would be comprised of representatives from pupil support services, including but not limited to, school counselors, school psychologists, school nurses, librarians, school social workers, and child welfare and attendance supervisors.

On behalf of school psychologists throughout the State, we commend Assemblywoman Corbett for her commitment to pupil support services and thank her for specifically including School Psychologists in this working group. It is the hope of CASP that this working group provides the design for offering incentives to schools to meet the national averages for pupil support services.

Pupil support services provide much-needed psychological, social, and college counseling to our youth. Additionally, early intervention is a critical component to combating the rising tide of student violence, isolation and at risk behavior. Despite the recognition of the critical need to provide guidance for students and the important benefits counseling and other pupil support services bring to California's students, these services are among the first to be cut back during difficult economic times and the last to be restored upon an economic upswing.