Part I.

Provides for salary supplements to school psychologists for the 2025-26 fiscal year to be provided in addition to any salary received under the teacher salary schedule, as follows: (1) $650 per month and (2) for school psychologists who have a National Certified School Psychologist Credential, 12% of their monthly salary. Appropriates $8.1 million in recurring funds from the General Fund to the Department of Public Instruction (DPI) for 2025-26 for the compensation increase.

Part II.

Enacts GS 115C-316.6, the school psychologists grant program, to provide funds to public school units for signing bonuses to recruit school psychologists subject to the following conditions: (1) DPI must prioritize the award of funds to public school units without a full-time psychologist at the time the application is submitted; (2) no individual bonus can be greater than $5,000; (3) the school psychologist must agree to remain employed in the public school unit for at least one year; and (4) grants must be used to supplement, not supplant, State or non-State funds already used for these services. Sets forth application requirements and instructs the Superintendent of Public Instruction to develop criteria and guidelines for the administration of the grants. By no later than April 1, 2026, and annually thereafter in years where funds are awarded, requires the superintendent of DPI to report to the specified NCGA committee and division on the grant program. Appropriates $5 million in recurring funds for 2025-26 from the General Fund to DPI for the grant program.

Part III.

Enacts GS 115C-316.7 requiring DPI to establish an internship program for school psychologists in public school units. Sets forth stipend and field supervisor compensation. Appropriates $5 million in recurring funds from the General Fund to DPI for the internship program.

Part IV.

Appropriates $5 million from the General Fund to the UNC Board of Governors for 2025-26 to be allocated to Appalachian State University (ASU) to host a virtual school psychology training program at the ASU campus in Hickory, North Carolina.

Part V.

Appropriates $1.6 million in recurring funds from the General Fund to the UNC Board of Governors for the 2025-26 fiscal year to be allocated to five specified constituent institutions to support the school psychology programs at those institutions with the goal of doubling the number of school psychologists produced.

Part VI.

Adds new Article 17F, School Psychologist Interstate Licensure Compact (Compact), to GS Chapter 115, providing as follows. States that the purpose of the Compact is to facilitate the interstate practice of School Psychology in educational or school settings, and in so doing to improve the availability of School Psychological Services to the public and sets out seven items that the Compact does, including: (1) promote the mobility of School Psychologists between and among the Member States in order to address workforce shortages and to ensure that safe and reliable School Psychological Services are available in each Member State, (2) enhance the public accessibility of School Psychological Services by increasing the availability of qualified, licensed School Psychologists through the establishment of an efficient and streamlined pathway for Licensees to practice in other Member States, and (3) promote cooperation between the Member States in regulating the practice of School Psychology within those states. Defines terms as they are used in the Compact.

Requires states to do the following in order to be eligible to join the Compact, and to maintain eligibility as a Member State: (1) enact a Compact statute that is not materially different from the Model Compact as defined in the Commission's Rules; (2) participate in the sharing of information with other Member States as reasonably necessary to accomplish the objectives of this Compact, and as further statutorily defined; (3) identify and maintain with the Commission a list of Equivalent Licenses available to Licensees who hold a Home State License under this Compact; (4) have a mechanism in place for receiving and investigating complaints about Licensees; (5) notify the Commission, in compliance with the terms of the Compact and the Commission's Rules, of any Adverse Action taken against a Licensee, or of the availability of investigative information which relates to a Licensee or applicant for licensure; (6) require that applicants for a Home State License have met specified exam and educational requirements; and (7) comply with the terms of this Compact and the Rules of the Commission. Requires Member States to grant an Equivalent License to practice School Psychology in that state upon application by a Licensee who satisfies the specified criteria and require renewing the license of a Licensee who satisfies the specified. Allows Member States to set and collect a fee for granting an Equivalent License. Requires licensee, in order to obtain and maintain an Equivalent License from a Remote State under this Compact, to: (1) hold and maintain an active Home State License; (2) satisfy any applicable State Specific Requirements established by the Member State after an Equivalent License is granted; (3) complete any administrative or application requirements which the Commission may establish by Rule and pay any associated fees; (4) complete any requirements for renewal in the Home State, including applicable Continuing Professional Education requirements; and (5) undergo criminal background check in the Member State in which the Equivalent License is sought.

Deems Licensees who are an Active Military Member or is their spouse to hold a Home State License in any of the following locations: (1) the Licensee's permanent residence, (2) a Member State that is the Licensee's primary state of practice, and (3) a Member State where the Licensee has relocated pursuant to a Permanent Change of Station (PCS).

Sets out provisions governing investigation and discipline of Licensees.

Creates a a joint government agency made up of all Member States that have enacted the Compact, known as the School Psychologist Interstate Licensure Compact Commission (Commission). Sets out provisions governing Commission membership, voting, and meetings. Lists the Commission's 23 powers, including to establish and amend rules and bylaws, maintain and certify records and information provided to a Member State as the authenticated business records of the Commission and designate an agent to do so on the Commission's behalf, purchase and maintain insurance and bonds, conduct an annual financial review, assess and collect fees, establish a budget and make expenditures, and borrow money. Gives the seven-member Executive Committee the power to act on behalf of the Commission and sets out nine duties; sets out meeting requirements. Requires the Executive Commission to give the Member States an annual report. Sets out conditions under which the Commission or the Executive Committee or other committees of the Commission may convene in a closed, nonpublic meeting, as well as the requirements that must be met during such meetings. Sets out requirements for how the Commission is to be financed, including allowing the Commission to levy on and collect an annual assessment from each Member State and impose fees on Licensees practicing in the Member States under an Equivalent License to cover the cost of the operations and activities of the Commission and its staff. Sets out provisions governing qualified immunity, defense, and indemnification.

Requires the Commission to facilitate the exchange of information to administer and implement the provisions of this Compact. Requires a Member State to agree to provide for the facilitation of the specified Licensee information.

Sets out provisions governing the Commission's rule-making powers.

Sets out provisions governing oversight, dispute resolution, and enforcement of the Compact by the Member States, including provisions for curing defaults and for termination of membership.

States that the Compact comes into effect on the date on which the Compact statute is enacted into law in the seventh Member State. Sets out additional provisions governing the enactment of the Compact as well as the effect of withdrawing from the Compact. Sets out provisions for the construction of the Compact's provisions and a severability clause.

Amends GS 115C-12 by making the State Board of Education the State Licensing Authority or Licensing Authority for purposes of Article 17F and fulfilling any requirements, duties, or obligations of the State Licensing Authority or Licensing Authority pursuant to that Article.

Part VII.

Effective July 1, 2025.