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PC 327

Para añadir el Artículo 2.13(a) de la Ley 85-2018, a los fines de establecer que deberá haber dos (2) Psicólogos Escolares asignados a cada escuela con quinientos (500) estudiantes o menos y si el plantel escolar cuenta con más de quinientos (500) estudiantes, deberá asignarse un Psicólogo Escolar adicional y para enmendar el Artículo 1.03 de la Ley 85-2018 a los fines de añadir que para ser Psicólogo Escolar se necesita tener una especialidad en Psicología Escolar o mostrar evidencia de las competencias en el área de la Psicología Escolar del Departamento de Educación del Estado Libre Asociado de Puerto Rico.

2025-2028 Session

The bill would require minimum school psychologist staffing by enrollment and raise credential standards to ensure only credentialed or competent psychologists serve in Puerto Rico

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Bill Summary · PC 327

Summary of Bill PC 327

Overview

PC 327 proposes to amend Puerto Rico law (Law 85-2018) to strengthen school psychology staffing and credentialing. The bill would require a minimum staffing ratio of school psychologists based on school enrollment and would raise credential standards for who may serve as a School Psychologist. The amendment targets Article 2.13(a) and Article 1.03 of Law 85-2018.

  • Title (translated): To add Article 2.13(a) to establish staffing requirements for School Psychologists and to amend Article 1.03 to require appropriate specialization or demonstrated competencies in School Psychology.
  • Status: Commission does not recommend approval.
  • Introduced: February 12, 2025.

Purpose and Intent

  • Ensure adequate psychological support in schools by specifying minimum staffing levels for School Psychologists.
  • Align credentialing with recognized expertise in School Psychology to ensure qualified professionals provideservices in schools.

Key Provisions

1) School Psychologist Staffing (Article 2.13(a))

  • For each school with 500 students or fewer: at least two (2) School Psychologists assigned.
  • For schools with more than 500 students: at least one additional School Psychologist (i.e., three or more total, depending on the exact enrollment).

2) Credentialing Requirement (Article 1.03)

  • To be employed as a School Psychologist, an individual must:
    • Have a specialization in School Psychology, or
    • Demonstrate evidence of competencies in School Psychology, from the Puerto Rico Department of Education (Departamento de Educación del Estado Libre Asociado de Puerto Rico).

Affected Parties

  • Public schools in Puerto Rico (staffing changes based on enrollment size).
  • School Psychologists and applicants seeking the School Psychologist credential.
  • Puerto Rico Department of Education (DOE) responsible for credentialing or recognizing competencies.

Procedural and Timeline Details

  • 2025-02-12: Bill filed (Radicado).
  • 2025-02-13: Appears in First Reading in the Chamber; Referenced to one or more Committees.
  • 2025-11-06 and 2025-11-10: Executive Meetings of the Commission (Office of the Commission) noted in the legislative actions.
  • 2025-11-12: Commission does not recommend approval of the measure.

Potential Impact

  • Staffing: Schools would need to adjust staffing to meet the minimum two-school-psychologist requirement (or three+ for larger schools), which could affect budgeting, hiring timelines, and staffing plans.
  • Credentialing: Raises the bar for who may serve as a School Psychologist, potentially increasing the pool of qualified applicants through required specialization or demonstrated competencies recognized by the DOE.
  • Implementation: If enacted, districts would face administrative tasks to verify credentials, align job postings, and ensure compliance across schools, with ongoing oversight by the DOE.

Notes

  • The bill’s current status indicates it did not pass the Commission as of the latest action (Nov 12, 2025). Additional floor action would depend on future committee actions or legislative priorities.

Compiled from official sources — confirm details with the bill’s official record.

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