If enacted, SB675 will amend the Hawaii Revised Statutes by adding a new section related to the incentives for school psychologists. By providing financial rewards, the bill seeks to enhance the recruitment and retention of nationally certified psychologists, which can lead to improved mental health support for students in the state. Schools in hard-to-fill areas will particularly benefit from the additional incentives, as these regions often struggle to attract qualified staff.
SB675 aims to establish a nationally certified school psychologist incentive program in Hawaii. This program will provide various financial incentives to school psychologists who earn national certification from the National Association of School Psychologists. Specifically, the program includes a $5,000 annual bonus for maintaining certification, reimbursements for certification fees, and an additional bonus for psychologists serving in hard-to-fill areas. The intent behind this initiative is to recognize and support exemplary educational practices among school psychologists.
The bill may face discussions regarding its funding, effectiveness, and the overall necessity of such programs in the state's educational structure. Stakeholders may debate whether additional financial incentives for school psychologists are the best approach to improving educational and mental health outcomes or if alternative strategies should be pursued. The successful implementation of SB675 will also depend on the appropriations made available for the fiscal years 2023-2024 and 2024-2025.