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SB 259

School Psychologist Omnibus.

2025-2026 Session Introduced by Gale Adcock and 19 co-sponsors

Expands NC school psychology workforce with pay boosts, signing grants, internship stipends, virtual training, and an Interstate Licensure Compact to boost mobility and access.

Passed 1st Reading
0
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Bill Summary · SB 259

SB 259 — School Psychologist Omnibus (2025) — Summary

Status & timing
- Short title: School Psychologist Omnibus. Introduced early 2025 (filed March 10, 2025 in the NC Senate). Proposes multiple statutory additions to Chapter 115C and new appropriations for FY 2025–26. Key program reports required beginning April 1, 2026.

Purpose
- To expand recruitment, training, retention, and interstate mobility of school psychologists in order to improve student safety, mental health, and access to school psychological services.

Key provisions and changes
1. Compensation increases (Part I)
- Monthly supplements for school psychologists in 2025–26:
- Flat supplement: $650 per month (in addition to teacher schedule).
- NCSP credential supplement: 12% of monthly salary for Nationally Certified School Psychologists.
- Appropriation: $8,100,000 (recurring) to DPI for these supplements in 2025–26.

  1. School Psychologists Grant Program (Part II)

    • DPI to establish a grant program for LEAs to recruit school psychologists (e.g., signing bonuses).
    • Prioritizes LEAs that do not employ a full‑time school psychologist.
    • Maximum signing bonus per individual: $5,000; bonus recipients must commit to remain employed at least one year.
    • Grants must supplement, not supplant, existing funds.
    • Appropriation: $5,000,000 (recurring) to DPI for the grant program.
    • Reporting: DPI must report annually (first report due April 1, 2026) on grantees and fund uses.

  2. Internship program (Part III)

    • DPI to create a school psychologist internship program: eligible full‑time students in approved preparation programs receive up to a 10‑month stipend equal to the beginning school psychologist salary.
    • Field supervisors eligible for a one‑time supplement ($500–$1,200) determined by the LEA.
    • Appropriation: $5,000,000 (recurring) to DPI for implementation.

  3. Virtual training capacity (Part IV) and program expansion (Part V)

    • $5,000,000 (nonrecurring) allocated to UNC Board of Governors, to Appalachian State University, to host a virtual training program.
    • $1,600,000 (recurring) allocated across UNC institutions (Appalachian State, ECU, NCSU, UNC‑CH, WCU) to expand school psychology program capacity.

  4. Interstate licensure compact (Part VI)

    • Establishes a School Psychologist Interstate Licensure Compact (new Article) to enable qualified school psychologists to obtain equivalent licenses across member states without duplicative requirements, facilitating mobility and addressing workforce shortages.

Who is affected
- Primary: current and prospective school psychologists, school psychology interns, LEAs (public school units), DPI, and UNC institutions that run graduate programs.
- Secondary: students (access to services), families, and local school budgets/administration.
- Multistate implications if states join the compact.

Fiscal and procedural notes
- Total identified appropriations in the bill for FY 2025–26: roughly $24.7 million (mix of recurring and nonrecurring):
- $8.1M recurring — compensation supplements
- $5.0M recurring — recruitment grants
- $5.0M recurring — internship stipends
- $5.0M nonrecurring — virtual program at ASU
- $1.6M recurring — expansion support for UNC programs
- DPI is the administering agency for grants, internships, and reporting duties; statutory additions create new program authority (G.S. 115C-316.6, -316.7) and enact compact language in Chapter 115C.
- Many provisions condition use of funds (e.g., supplement not supplant; one‑year employment requirement for signing bonuses).

Potential impacts and considerations
- Expected short‑to‑mid term: improve recruitment and retention, expand training pipeline, and increase access to school psychological services statewide.
- Budgetary: creates ongoing recurring costs (salary supplements, grant and internship funding), and one‑time infrastructure/training investment.
- Implementation: success depends on LEA uptake, UNC program capacity to scale, DPI program administration, and (for the compact) multi‑state adoption to realize mobility benefits.

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

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