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SB 504

relative to the practice of pharmacy and the dispensing of certain medications by pharmacists, authorizing the establishment of experimental treatment centers, and permitting treatment of certain severe illness under the right to try act.

2026 Regular Session Introduced by Howard Pearl and 1 co-sponsor

The bill raises pay, offers signing bonuses and grants, and funds internships and statewide recruitment to hire and retain more school psychologists in NC.

Sen. Rochefort Moved Nonconcur with the House Amendment, MA, VV; 05/21/2026; SJ 13
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Bill Summary · SB 504

SB 504 — School Psychologist Omnibus (North Carolina) — Summary

Status: Enacted as introduced in 2023 session (effective July 1, 2023)
Primary focus: Increase recruitment, retention, training, and compensation for school psychologists in North Carolina.

Purpose / Intent

To address shortages of school psychologists in public schools by (1) increasing pay, (2) providing incentive grants and signing bonuses to recruit practitioners to underserved districts, (3) expanding internship and training capacity, and (4) creating centralized recruitment capacity at the state level.

Key provisions

  • Compensation supplements (FY 2023–24)

    • All school psychologists receive a $650 monthly supplement (in addition to base teacher schedule).
    • School psychologists holding the Nationally Certified School Psychologist (NCSP) credential receive an additional monthly supplement equal to 12% of their monthly salary.
    • Appropriation: $8,100,000 recurring from the General Fund to the Department of Public Instruction (DPI) to fund these supplements.

  • School Psychologists Grant Program (administered by DPI)

    • Grants to public school units to recruit school psychologists (priority to units without a full-time psychologist).
    • Permitted uses include signing bonuses; individual bonuses capped at $5,000.
    • As a condition of accepting a bonus, the psychologist must commit to remain employed in the unit for at least one year.
    • Grants must supplement, not supplant, existing funds.
    • Reporting: DPI must report annually (by April 1) to the Joint Legislative Education Oversight Committee and Fiscal Research Division on recipients, amounts, and uses.
    • Appropriation: $1,700,000 recurring to establish/implement the program.

  • Recruitment & retention coordinator (DPI)

    • By Sept. 1, 2023, DPI must permanently reclassify at least one full-time position to serve as a recruitment and retention coordinator focused on recruiting school psychologists (including out-of-state recruitment).

  • School Psychologists Internship Program (DPI)

    • Establishes a paid internship program for participants in approved full‑time school psychology preparation programs.
    • Interns receive up to a 10‑month stipend equal to the beginning salary for a school psychologist.
    • Field supervisors in districts hosting interns are eligible for a one-time supplement between $500 and $1,200 (amount set by the local unit).
    • Appropriation: $5,000,000 recurring to DPI to establish and operate the internship program.

  • Virtual training & capacity-building (UNC system)

    • $5,000,000 nonrecurring (General Fund to UNC Board of Governors) allocated to Appalachian State University to host a virtual school psychology training program.
    • $1,600,000 recurring to the UNC Board of Governors to be allocated among Appalachian State, East Carolina, NC State, UNC–Chapel Hill, and Western Carolina University to expand school psychology program capacity with the stated goal of doubling output.

Who is affected

  • Public school psychologists (salary supplements, NCSP incentive)
  • School districts / public school units (grant applicants; hosts of interns)
  • School psychology students/trainees (paid internships, virtual training)
  • DPI and UNC institutions (administration and implementation)
  • Ultimately, students and school mental health service capacity statewide.

Fiscal and timeline notes

  • Multiple appropriations/allocations: $8.1M recurring (compensation), $1.7M recurring (grant program), $5.0M recurring (internship program), $5.0M nonrecurring (virtual training/ASU), $1.6M recurring (UN C system program support).
  • Effective date: July 1, 2023 (per bill text).
  • Programs include reporting and eligibility/priority rules; local units must use grants to supplement, not supplant, existing funding.

Impact

The bill combines immediate salary/bonus incentives with longer‑term investments in training capacity and centralized recruitment to increase the number and retention of school psychologists, particularly targeting districts currently lacking full‑time coverage.

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

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