School Psychology Updates: November 23, 2021

North Carolina Public Schools sent this bulletin at 11/23/2021 03:39 PM EST

School Psychology Updates Header

"With a grateful heart for all that you do for students, families and staff across the state of NC, I wish you all a wonderful season of Thanksgiving."

School Psychologists Recognized as Educators of Excellence

During the 70th Conference on Exceptional Children held November 18-19, 2021, at the Koury Convention Center in Greensboro, professional educators from across the state were recognized as Educators of Excellence within their public school units. Included in this group of esteemed awardees were some of our very own school psychologists!

Congratulations to the following school psychologists who were included in this group of nearly 100 recognized during the annual celebration ceremony held in their honor on the evening of November 18th.

Megan Cardin

Nash County Public Schools

Jeremy Draughn

Pitt County Schools

Melissa Lakey

Yadkin County Schools

Megan Cardin

Jeremy Draughn

Melissa Lakey

70th Conference on Exceptional Children - NC's Prominent History in Special Education 

2021 EC Conference

Below are some notable facts that we reflected on regarding NC's robust history in support of students with disabilities and provision of special education services. 

  • 1949-1950: (nearly 30 years prior to Public Law 94-142), 54 NC special education teachers served 2,162 students across 6 disability categories.

  • 1950: through a partnership with the Easter Seals, the 1st North Carolina Conference on Exceptional Children was held.

  • 1969: special education teaching allotments became non-categorical, allowing schools to use their special education funds to employ teachers on the basis of need rather than by disability category.

  • 1969-1970: 2,205 NC special education teachers served 61,820 students across 9 disability categories.

  • 1975-1976: (just prior to enactment of Public Law 94-142), 3,712 NC special education teachers served 97814 students across 9 disability categories.

  • 2021: NC special educators serve over 200,000 students across 14 disability categories.

Legislative Updates 

The NC General Assembly passed the state budget, Senate Bill 105 Appropriations Act of 2021, which Governor Cooper signed on Thursday, November 18.

The North Carolina School Psychology Association has done a great job highlighting key components of the budget that support improving equitable access for all students to school psychological services. (Click link above or picture below for more details).

SB105

 

ATTENTION VETERAN SCHOOL PSYCHOLOGISTS: An additional provision of interest includes the following ADDITION to Lifetime Licensure for Professional Educators. 

Student services personnel (including school psychologists) and administrators have been added to the eligibility for a lifetime license that shall require no renewal once at least one of the following criteria have been met: 

(1) Completed 30 or more years of creditable service with the Teachers' and State Employees' Retirement System. 

(2) Completed a combined total of 30 or more years of employment as a licensed teacher, administrator, or student services personnel in one or more public school units in North Carolina. (page 94)

 

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION ON NC's BUDGET:

Read Superintendent Truitt's Statement on the Budget, including one of the Key K-12 Education Highlights in the budget: "Ensuring school psychologists are in every district and increasing their compensation, which will attract more to the profession."

Visit the following links provided through DPI's Financial & Business Services:

Subscribe to the Legislative Updates Listserv
Visit the K-12 Education Legislation and Reports page for additional updates

Updates to the NC School Psychology Position Postings page

Additions include:

  • NC Job Seeker Alert, which provides information on recent education appropriations improving compensation for, and workforce development of, school psychologists.

  • New section providing information on available school psychology internships for the 2022-2023 academic year!

This page receives a high number of visits from job seekers across the country. 

NC public schools are encouraged to post open positions on this page

(If you have posted already, be sure to adjust as needed to ensure all postings accurately reflect available positions)

Jobs Page Screen Shot

Looking Ahead to December

New Additions to the School Psychology Lending Library!

Continue to advance your professional skills. Check out the new additions to the School Psychology Lending Library!

High Impact Assessment Reports for Children and Adolescents

School-Based Behavioral Assessment, Second Edition

Evaluating Educational Intervention, Second Edition

Check in, Check out; Second Edition