Bill Summary for H 749 (2021-2022)

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Summary date: 

Apr 29 2021

Bill Information:

View NCGA Bill Details2021
House Bill 749 (Public) Filed Thursday, April 29, 2021
AN ACT TO APPROPRIATE FUNDS FOR THE RECRUITMENT AND RETENTION OF SCHOOL PSYCHOLOGISTS IN PUBLIC SCHOOLS.
Intro. by Ball, Lambeth, K. Baker, R. Smith.

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Bill summary

Includes whereas clauses.

Part I.

Provides for an additional $10,000 per year, paid in monthly amounts, for school psychologists for 2021-22 in addition to the salary provided under the "A" Teacher Salary Schedule. Provides for a 12% salary supplement, based on the modified salary, for school psychologists who have Nationally Certified School Psychologists Certification for 2021-22. Defines school psychologist to include licensed personnel of the public schools who are classified as such.

Appropriates $14,000,664 in recurring funds from the General Fund to the Department of Public Instruction (DPI) for 2021-22 to provide these compensation increases.

Effective July 1, 2021.

Part II.

Enacts GS 115C-318.1, directing the State Board of Education (State Board) to establish the School Psychologists Recruitment and Retention Program (program) to recruit and retain high-quality school psychologists to identified public school units (broadly defined to include charter schools, regional schools, and schools operated by the State Board, UNC, the Department of Health and Human Services, and the Department of Public Safety, as specified) by providing signing and retention bonuses to select school psychologists. Provides for administration by a recruitment and retention coordinator at DPI, who is to coordinate with identified public school units to allocate any funds appropriated to the Program. Establishes five parameters for funding allocation, including required terms of agreement between the identified public school unit and the school psychologist, which is subject to the coordinator's approval, capped individual bonuses at $10,000, and required considerations of identified public school units. Directs the recruitment and retention coordinator to quarterly report to the specified NCGA leaders, committee and division, beginning September 30, 2021, on the name of the identified public school units that received funds, the amount of funds received, and the purposes for which the funds were used.

Appropriates $650,000 in recurring funds from the General Fund to DPI for 2021-22 to establish and implement the program, with DPI directed to use $100,000 to establish one new, full-time equivalent recruitment and retention coordinator position to administer the program. 

Effective July 1, 2021.

Part III.

Appropriates $4,526,550 in recurring funds from the General Fund to DPI for 2021-22 to provide monthly stipends to up to 100 school psychology interns, for a period for up to 12 months, equal to the monthly salary amounts provided on the first step of the Teacher Salary Schedule for school psychologists. Requires DPI to establish selection criteria that includes enrollment in a graduate program accredited by the National Association of School Psychologists and agreement to an internship of at least 1,200 hours of field experience on a full-time basis over the course of an academic year.