The PASAP Board of Directors was extremely pleased with the attendance at this year's conference held March 1, 2 and 3.  What a wonderful opportunity to meet new friends and visit with old acquaintances. Some of the conference highlights included our PASAP Awards presentations, the keynote presentations by Donald Smith, Bernie Hoffman, and Iris Beckwith.  We also bid farewell to longtime board member Ellen Jagger, from the Northeast region.  We thank Ellen very much for her eight years of service to PASAP and wish her the very best.  

The conference evaluations proved to be very helpful in providing feedback that will be invaluable in planning for future conferences.  Overall, the conference was felt to be outstanding.  The breakout sessions provided a wealth of information that can be utilized or implemented back home.  Many of the attendees provided some excellent suggestions for future topics and activities.  Other suggestions for improvements in how the conference is organized were also shared.  The board will be discussing these evaluations at its April meeting.  

We were fairly pleased with the online conference registration system. However, we will be working hard to streamline that process for the benefit of our members.  We would like to thank all of those who attended our conference. We trust that it was a worthwhile event and that you are looking forward to attending next year's big event, the 25^th anniversary of SAP in our State. We encourage all members to check the PASAP website periodically for updates and information throughout the year as we all continue our joint mission of eliminating the barriers to learning while promoting resiliency and success at school and in life for all students.

Planning has already started for the 2010 Conference.  We are so excited to be having two major landmarks to celebrate next year.  It will be the 20^th PASAP Conference that we have offered and it is also the 25^th Anniversary of SAP in Pennsylvania.  Our theme this year "Twenty-Five Years....One Student at a Time" really captures the Student Assistance Program's commitment to reaching out to each and every child. Our theme is based on the "Starfish Poem".  As most of you know the poem tells the story about a young man who is observed throwing Starfish back into the ocean.  The following is an excerpt from that poem.  "But, young man, don't you realize that there are miles and miles of beach and starfish all along it. You can't possibly make a difference!" The young man listened politely. Then bent down, picked up another starfish and threw it into the sea, past the breaking waves and said- "It made a difference for that one."

A major goal of our organization is to provide a state forum for sharing resources, common needs, experience and outcomes through an annual conference, which will be held March 7^th, 8^th, and 9^th, 2010 at the Penn Stater Conference Center, State College, PA.  Some of the topics that have been suggested by those who attended the 2009 conference include; eating disorders, new meds for ADHD, continue leadership related topics, more strategies that are working - i.e. how fairy tales empower girls & using the Search Institute 40 assets, how to help at Elementary level, offer maintenance for existing SAP teams, offer SAP training, gangs, gender issues, current drug trends, poverty, resiliency skills, positive school climate and many, many more.

If you know of a speaker that you have heard recently and you think would make an outstanding keynote or breakout session presenter, please contact Conference Co-chair, Alycia Lenart at This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it .

The New York Times writes that the economic stimulus plan being considered by Congress would shower the nation’s school districts, child care centers, and university campuses with $150 billion in new federal spending, a vast two-year investment that would more than double the Department of Education’s current budget. The proposed emergency expenditures for nearly every realm of education, including school renovation, special education, Head Start and grants to needy college students, would amount to the largest increase in federal aid since Washington began to spend significantly on education after World War II. Critics and supporters alike said that by its sheer scope, the measure could profoundly change the federal government’s role in education, which has traditionally been the responsibility of state and local government. Representative George Miller (D-Calif.), chairman of the House education committee, said, "We cannot let education collapse; we have to provide this level of support to schools."

But Republicans strongly criticized some of the proposals as wasteful spending and an ill-considered expansion of the federal government’s role, traditionally centered on aid to needy students, into new realms like local school construction. And they were joined by some education experts from across the political spectrum in wondering how school districts could spend so many new billions so fast, whether such an outpouring of dollars would lead to higher student achievement, and what might happen in two years when the stimulus money ends. Frederick Hess, an education policy analyst at the American Enterprise Institute, criticized the bill as failing to include mechanisms to encourage districts to bring school budgets in line with property tax revenues, which have plunged with the bursting of the real estate bubble.

The formulas by which the stimulus money for public schools would be allocated to states and local districts are complex, but take into consideration the number of school-age children in poor families. The level received per student would vary considerably by state, according to an analysis by the New America Foundation, a research group that monitors education spending. The foundation contends, however, that the formula does not effectively allocate the most money to states with the greatest need.

New Awards Forms Available in Forms and Documents Link 

The PASAP Board of Directors recognizes the outstanding work that is done by our membership.   We encourage our membership to take this opportunity to nominate a deserving individual or group.  Nominations are now open for the following awards:

The VISIONARY AWARD

This award is presented to a member of the association who has expressed and demonstrated a key vision for student assistance in Pennsylvania.  Through this vision, the individual has made important contributions both to the PASAP organization and to the cause of student assistance.

Documentation should be provided to support the nominee's involvement and leadership in professional activities, programs or projects that have positively impacted SAP throughout the Commonwealth.  Supporting information should also substantiate the impact such activities have had on students as well as SAP professionals.

Nominations for this award are subject to review and approval by members of the PASAP Board of Directors.  The award will be announced at the annual PASAP spring conference.

The FRIEND OF PASAP AWARD

A. Why are you nominating this individual or organization?
B. Cite any pertinent service activities, programs, projects, and achievements.
C. List contributions made by the nominee to both PASAP and the SAP process in Pennsylvania.

3. The DISTINGUISHED SERVICE AWARD

Award Description:
This award is presented to an individual member or member organization of the association that has demonstrated distinguished service to student assistance in Pennsylvania.  Through this service, the individual or organization has made important contributions both to the PASAP organization and to the cause of student assistance.

Documentation should be provided to support the nominee's involvement and leadership in professional activities, programs or projects that have positively impacted SAP.  Supporting information should also substantiate the impact such activities have had on students as well as SAP professionals.
  
Nominations for this award are subject to review and approval by members of the PASAP Board of Directors.

The SAP TEAM OF THE YEAR AWARD

This award is presented to a Student Assistance team that has gone above and beyond to identify barriers to learning. A team that supports research-based prevention programs, skilled identification, and also fosters positive connections with students, parents, and the community.
Please take the time to nominate someone you know (an individual or group) that is working hard for the children of Pennsylvania!

New nomination forms are available on our website. All awards will be given at our conference in March. Deadline for nominations is January 9th, 2009.  Please email all nominations to This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it .

Erin Keating
Award Committee Chairperson