The National Association of School Psychologists (NASP) is a left-of-center professional association for school psychologists, claiming to serve over 25,000 individual members throughout the United States.

The organization has strongly supported the use of critical race theory within schools and defended teaching it in public schools by distributing documents outlining “corrections to misinformation about CRT” as well as statements promoting left-of-center language concerning “anti-racism” and diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI). The organization is active in public policy and lobbying, promoting a variety of left-of-center policies, including opposing police in schools, supporting left-of-center environmentalist policies, and supporting restrictions on gun ownership. The organization also lobbies on state and federal education funding legislation. ^{1 2 3}

Background

The National Association of School Psychologists was founded in 1969 and developed several certification programs for school psychologists and counselors, and also launched a newsletter, Communique, and a journal, the School Psychology Review. The organization engaged in lobbying efforts early in its history, working to secure definitions for school counseling and students with learning disorders in federal legislation including the Education of All Handicapped Children Act of 1975 and the Individuals with Disabilities Act (IDEA) of 1990. The organization also claims to have had “significant influence” regarding provisions related to discipline and learning disorder identification in the reauthorization of IDEA as IDEIA in 2004. ^{4 5}

The NASP currently claims to be comprised of over 25,000 individual members across the United States and within 25 additional countries. The organization’s members include “psychologists, graduate students, and related professionals.” The organization releases regular guidance and position statements regarding “school safety, assessment, grade retention, learning challenges (ADHD, dyslexia), racial and ethnic disproportionality in education, and more.” ⁶

Policy Stances

The National Association of School Psychologists promotes a variety of left-of-center ideologies concerning “anti-racism,” critical race theory (CRT), and diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI). The group also promotes a variety of left-of-center public policies concerning gun control, environmentalism, and criminal justice. NASP has adopted left-of-center policy resolutions including some titled “Resolution Supporting Efforts to Reduce the Harmful Effects of Climate Change on Children and Youth” and “Resolution to Support Efforts to Prevent Gun Violence.” ⁷

One resolution adopted by the organization in 2020 was a commitment to “Antiracism Action,” stating: “The killings of George Floyd, Breonna Taylor, and so many others, in addition to the disproportionate impact of COVID-19 on Black communities, have highlighted the systemic inequities that Black people have faced historically and continue to face today. The tragic deaths at the hands of law enforcement have again galvanized a coalition of novice and veteran activists alike around the Black Lives Matter movement.” ⁸

The organization also adopted a resolution supporting school psychologists’ roles in encouraging gender transitions in children, stating that “a person’s gender identity develops in early childhood and some children and adolescents may not identify with their assigned sex at birth” and that “it may be medically and therapeutically indicated for some transgender and other gender diverse children and adolescents to transition from one gender to another using any of the following: change of name, pronouns, hairstyle, clothing, pubertal suppression, cross-sex hormone treatment, and surgical treatment.” ⁹

Defense of Critical Race Theory

The National Association of School Psychologists has strongly supported the use of critical race theory within schools and defended the teaching of critical race theory. In a document published by the NASP titled “The Importance of Addressing Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion in Schools: Dispelling Myths About Critical Race Theory” the group defends critical race theory as a “well-established” view being subjected to “demonization and purposeful misrepresentation” in discussions that use “divisive rhetoric” in describing the theory. The NASP defines critical race theory as the recognition  “that race is a social construct and race does not reflect biological differences among people (e.g., differences in intelligence, physical ability) […] [it] includes an understanding that systemic racism is part of American history and still exists in modern society […] [and it] identifies and examines the ways in which White supremacy and racism permeate systems today.” ¹⁰

1. “Resolutions.” National Association of School Psychologists. Accessed May 23, 2023. https://www.nasponline.org/research-and-policy/policy-priorities/resolutions
2. “Policy Matters.” National Association of School Psychologists. Accessed May 23, 2023. https://www.nasponline.org/research-and-policy/policy-matters-blog
3. Do No Harm Staff. “The National Association of School Psychologists, Part 1: Advancing DEI, CRT, and Anti-Racism.” Do No Harm, May 13, 2023. https://donoharmmedicine.org/2023/05/13/the-national-association-of-school-psychologists-part-1-advancing-dei-crt-and-anti-racism/
4. “NASP History Timeline.” National Association of School Psychologists. Accessed May 23, 2023. https://www.nasponline.org/assets/Documents/About%20NASP/NASP%20History%20Timeline_FINAL.pdf
5. “NASP 50 Forward.” National Association of School Psychologists. Accessed May 23, 2023. https://www.nasponline.org/utility/about-nasp/nasp-50-forward
6. “About NASP.” National Association of School Psychologists. Accessed May 23, 2023. https://www.nasponline.org/utility/about-nasp
7. “Resolutions.” National Association of School Psychologists. Accessed May 23, 2023. https://www.nasponline.org/research-and-policy/policy-priorities/resolutions
8. “Resolution Committing to Antiracism Action.” National Association of School Psychologists. Accessed May 23, 2023. https://www.nasponline.org/x55979.xml
9. “Resolution on Gender and Sexual Orientation Diversity in Children and Adolescents in Schools.” National Association of School Psychologists. Accessed May 23, 2023. https://www.nasponline.org/x60392.xml
10. “The Importance of Addressing Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion in Schools: Dispelling Myths About Critical Race Theory” National Association of School Psychologists. Accessed May 23, 2023. https://donoharmmedicine.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/04/The-Importance-of-DEI-Dispelling-Myths-About-Critical-Race-Theory-NASP.pdf