Page 12 - NAESP Principal - Nov/Dec 2021

BU L L E T I N BO A R D
Advocate Le g i s l a t i v e pr i or i t i e s a n d ch a m pi on i n g t he c a u s e

Your Voice on Capitol Hill

AESP serves as your voice on Capitol
Hill, focusing on federal policy pri-
N orities that aim to improve schools,
support the principal profession, and advance
student achievement.
FEDERAL EDUCATION FUNDING
Since COVID-19 hit, NAESP has advocated
for increased education funding through the
American Rescue Plan (ARP), which dedicated
$122 billion to help K–12 schools support safe
school reopenings, boost academic recovery, pandemic, and NAESP is pushing for funding to
and address student mental health challeng- address the lack of access to counselors.
es. NAESP continually works to ensure that
principals are consulted when decisions are SOCIAL-EMOTIONAL LEARNING
being made about how funding is spent at the NAESP works with the U.S. Department of
federal, state, and district levels. Education to ensure that school culture, climate,
and social-emotional development support
EARLY CHILDHOOD EDUCATION equity for all students. Social-emotional learning
NAESP has long advocated for a seamless initiatives shouldn’t end with students, though;
continuum of learning for every child from now more than ever, school leaders and
pre-K through third grade. The fiscal year teachers are burned out and need support.
2022 budget reconciliation bill would provide
an opportunity to bolster federal investment PRINCIPAL PIPELINE
in early education by covering the costs of ARP funding enables states and districts to
preschool for all 3- and 4-year-old children. invest in pipelines that strengthen principal
preparation and support. Districts receive 90
MENTAL HEALTH AND SCHOOL SAFETY percent of ARP funds and can use the money
NAESP partners with the U.S. Centers for to support principal residency programs,
Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) to job-embedded professional development,
provide COVID-19 guidance to school leaders mentoring and induction assistance, and one-
as they navigate the challenges of keeping on-one principal coaching.
schools open safely. School-based mental Learn more and take action by visiting
health support is also a priority during the naesp.org/advocacy.

Take Action With Advocacy Text Alerts

Advocating for the principalship and for educa- 1. Text NAESP to 52886 to sign up for advocacy
tion as a whole is a top priority at NAESP, and text alerts;
we can’t do it without you. Your firsthand expe- 2. Click on the link and provide your contact

rience is key to influencing policymakers when it information; and

comes to making a difference in education. For- 3. Message your legislators at the click of a button
tunately, staying up to date on all things policy from your phone when NAESP Action Alerts
and advocacy in education is as easy as 1-2-3: come in.
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10 N OV EM B ER / D E C EM B ER 2 0 2 1 • NAE S P. O R G