AMTA Participates in SISP Week (April 13th - 17th)

This year the week of April 13th is Specialized Instructional Support Personnel week.  As a member of the National Alliance for Specialized Instructional Support Personnel (NASISP), AMTA will be a part of celebrating this week, and raising awareness on Capitol Hill about the important contributions of specialized instructional support personnel (SISP) in helping students.

Congressman Dave Loebsack (D-IA) has now introduced a SISP resolution recognizing April 13-17th as National Specialized Instructional Support Personnel Awareness Week. See the text of (H. Res. 183) below:

IN THE HOUSE OF THE UNITED STATES RESOLUTION 183
 
Designating April 13-17, as ‘‘National Specialized Instructional Support Personnel Awareness Week” to recognize the important contribution specialized instructional support make in ensuring student and school success.
 
Whereas there are more than one million specialized instructional support personnel, such as school counselors, school nurses, psychologists, school psychologists, social workers, school social workers; occupational therapists, physical therapists, art therapists, dance/movement therapists, music therapists; speech-language pathologists, and audiologists serving our nations’ schools and students.
 
Whereas, Specialized Instructional Support Personnel (SISP) work together to meet the needs of all students;
 
Whereas, Specialized Instructional Support Personnel (SISP) provide school-based prevention and early intervention services to reduce students’ barriers to learning;
 
Whereas Specialized Instructional Support Personnel (SISP) work with teachers, administrators, parents, and the community to ensure all students are successful in school;
 
Whereas Specialized Instructional Support Personnel (SISP) encourage multidisciplinary collaboration among school employees and community professionals to promote student and school success;
 
Whereas Specialized Instructional Support Personnel (SISP) provide educational, social emotional and behavioral interventions and activities that support student learning and teaching;
 
Whereas Specialized Instructional Support Personnel (SISP) help to create environments that are safe, supportive, healthy, and conducive to learning;
 
Whereas safe supportive, and healthy school environments lead to improved academic performance;
 
Whereas Specialized Instructional Support Personnel (SISP) support student communication and social skill development;

Whereas Specialized Instructional Support Personnel (SISP) support student physical wellness and development; and
 
Whereas Specialized Instructional Support Personnel (SISP) support the behavioral, emotional, and mental health of students.
 
Now, therefore, be it  Resolved, That the House—
 
designates April 13-17, as ‘‘National Specialized Instructional Support Personnel Awareness Week”;

 urges the Department of Education to provide guidance to states and districts on how to effectively utilize specialized instructional support personnel in school improvement efforts;

recognizes that specialized Instructional support personnel implement evidenced based practices to improve student outcomes;

urges federal, state, and local agencies and  policymakers to work together to incorporate of Specialized Instructional Support Personnel (SISP)  and services in education reform efforts;   

encourages experts to share best practices so that others can replicate their success;

and commends the National Alliance of Specialized Instructional Support Personnel, a 20 member organization, for their efforts to promote and  improve the availability of specialized instructional support services to children and youth in our nations’ schools.

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