Dear Colleagues:
With a new admissions season upon us, we wanted to remind school psychology graduate program directors and faculty of the Joint Statement on April 15th Admissions Commitment Date approved in December 2010 by CDSPP, TSP, and the then NASP Graduate Education Workgroup (see below). Consistent with the statement, we encourage programs to give admitted students the opportunity to consider their graduate program options by not requiring a decision to accept an admissions or financial aid offer for the fall prior to April 15th.
You might also make your applicants and admitted students aware of both this statement, and a comparable requirement for programs listed in the APA Graduate Study in Psychology (which includes both specialist and doctoral level programs in school psychology). At least then they will know that a program requiring an earlier decision is not complying with the statement and with APA Guide requirements.
All the best,
Kasee Stratton
kstratton@tkmartin.msstate.edu
Dan Gadke
dgadke@colled.msstate.edu
NASP Graduate Education Committee
Joint Statement on April 15 Admissions Commitment Date
Council of Directors of School Psychology Programs (CDSPP)
Trainers of School Psychologists (TSP)
National Association of School Psychologists (NASP) Graduate Education Workgroup
December 15, 2010
Determining which graduate program to attend is one of the most important educational decisions a prospective school psychologist will make. Consistent with the Council of Graduate School policy (http://cgsnet.org/april-15-resolution) all student candidates deserve the opportunity to consider their options and admission offers before making such a decision. Thus, the Council of Directors of School Psychology Programs (CDSPP), Trainers of School Psychologists (TSP), and National Association of School Psychologists (NASP) Graduate Education Workgroup urge all school psychology programs to establish a deadline of no earlier than April 15th, to the fullest extent possible, for candidates accepted for the following fall semester to make a commitment to accept an admission offer or financial assistance (e.g., assistantship, scholarship, etc.) offer.