Nationally Certified School Psychologist Program; established.

Plain English Breakdown

The bill's status is 'Enacted' but it has been left in Committee Appropriations as per the last action date, which may indicate a discrepancy or an update needed.

Nationally Certified School Psychologist Program

This bill establishes a program to reward school psychologists who obtain national certification with grants from an existing fund, which is renamed to include both teachers and school psychologists.

What This Bill Does

• Creates the Nationally Certified School Psychologist Program.
• Adds this new program to the National Teacher Certification Incentive Reward Program.
• Changes the name of the existing fund to include both teachers and school psychologists.
• Expands the use of funds in the renamed National Teacher Certification Incentive Reward Program Fund to give grants to school psychologists who get national certification, including an initial state-funded award of $5,000 and a subsequent annual award of $2,500 for the life of the certificate.

Who It Names or Affects

• School psychologists who want to earn national certification from the National Association of School Psychologists.
• The Board of Education, which will manage and distribute funds for both teachers and school psychologists.

Terms To Know

Nationally Certified School Psychologist Program

A program that gives money to school psychologists who get national certification from the National Association of School Psychologists.

National Teacher Certification Incentive Reward Program Fund

A special fund used by the state to give awards to teachers and now also school psychologists for getting national certifications, renamed to include both groups.

Limits and Unknowns

• The bill does not specify how much money will be in the fund or where it comes from.
• It is unclear if there are enough funds available to award all eligible school psychologists $5,000 initially and $2,500 annually.

Official Summary Text

Nationally Certified School Psychologist Program established; incorporation into National Teacher Certification Incentive Reward Program and Fund.
Establishes the Nationally Certified School Psychologist Program and incorporates such program into the existing National Teacher Certification Incentive Reward Program. The bill also renames the National Teacher Certification Incentive Reward Program Fund as the National Teacher Certification Incentive Reward Program and Nationally Certified School Psychologist Program Fund (the Fund) and expands the purpose for which disbursements may be made from the Fund to include the award of incentive grants to school psychologists obtaining national certification from the National Association of School Psychologists consisting of an initial state-funded award of $5,000 and a subsequent award of $2,500 each year for the life of the certificate.

Current Bill Text

A BILL to amend and reenact §
22.1-299.2
of the Code of Virginia, relating to Nationally Certified School Psychologist Program established; incorporation into National Teacher Certification Incentive Reward Program and Fund.

Be it enacted by the General Assembly of Virginia:

1. That §
22.1-299.2
of the Code of Virginia is amended and reenacted as follows:

§
22.1-299.2
. National Teacher Certification Incentive Reward Program; Nationally Certified School Psychologist Program; National Teacher Certification Incentive Reward Program and Nationally Certified School Psychologist Program Fund.

A. From such funds as may be appropriated for such purpose and from such gifts, donations, grants, bequests, and other funds as may be received on its behalf, there is hereby established the National Teacher Certification Incentive Reward Program

(the "Program")
and the Nationally Certified School Psychologist Program (collectively, the Programs)
, to be administered by the Board
of Education
, and a special nonreverting fund within the state treasury known as the National Teacher Certification Incentive Reward Program
and Nationally Certified School Psychologist Program
Fund (the
"Fund"
Fund
). The Fund shall be established on the books of the Comptroller, and any moneys remaining in the Fund at the end of the biennium shall not revert to the general fund but shall remain in the Fund. Interest earned on such funds shall remain in the Fund and be credited to it.

The State Treasurer shall manage the Fund, subject to the authority of the Board
of Education
to provide for its disbursement. The Fund shall be disbursed to award incentive grants to public school teachers obtaining national certification from the National Board for Professional Teaching Standards
and to public school psychologists
obtaining national certification from the National Association of School Psychologists
.

To the extent funds are available in the Fund, teachers
and school psychologists
who obtain national certification shall receive an initial state-funded award of $5,000 and a subsequent award of $2,500 each year for the life of the certificate. Such awards shall continue to be paid upon renewal of the certificate. The Board shall establish procedures for determining amounts of awards if the moneys in the Fund are not sufficient to award each eligible teacher
and each eligible school psychologist
the appropriate award amount.

B. The Board may issue guidelines governing the
Program
Programs
as it deems necessary and appropriate.