Whereas all children and youth learn best when they are healthy, supported, and receive an education that meets their individual needs; Whereas schools can more effectively ensure that all students are ready and able to learn if schools meet all the needs of each student; Whereas learning and development are directly linked to the mental health of children, and a supportive learning environment is an optimal place to promote mental health; Whereas sound psychological principles are critical to proper instruction and learning, social and emotional development, prevention and early intervention, and support for a culturally diverse student population; Whereas school psychologists are specially trained to deliver mental health services and academic support that lower barriers to learning and allows teachers to teach more effectively; Whereas school psychologists facilitate collaboration that helps parents and educators to identify and reduce risk factors, promote protective factors, create safe schools, and access community resources; Whereas school psychologists are trained to assess barriers to learning, utilize data-based decisionmaking, implement research-driven prevention and intervention strategies, evaluate outcomes, and improve accountability; Whereas State educational agencies and other State entities credential more than 35,000 school psychologists who practice in schools in the United States as key professionals that promote the learning and mental health of all children; Whereas the National Association of School Psychologists establishes and maintains high standards for training, practice, and school psychologist credentialing, in collaboration with organizations such as the American Psychological Association, that promote effective and ethical services by school psychologists to children, families, and schools