IU and its regional campuses have launched a new program called “Addressing Regional School Psychologist Shortages” to address the increasing demand for mental health services in schools. The program aims to provide flexible education opportunities for working adults, who can pursue an education specialist degree in school psychology while continuing to work. This initiative will help alleviate the shortage of licensed school psychologists and ensure that necessary services are provided to students. Regional campus partners, including IUK, IU East, and IU South Bend, are involved in this program.
A $4.4 million grant from the United States Department of Education has been used to establish a program in partnership with Kokomo School Corporation, Richmond Community Schools, and South Bend Community School Corporation. The grant not only supports these districts but also provides tuition assistance for students. Designed as a 65-credit hour program, it offers a combination of online and in-person classes, with students typically attending two to three classes per semester and three to four during the summer. To ensure accessibility for working professionals, classes do not meet during the day.
Students will also need flexibility to complete their clinical hours. The first cohort consists of 13 students, many of whom are employed at Kokomo schools. The program aims to address the shortage of school psychologists in Indiana, where the student-to-school psychologist ratio is currently 1,502 to 1, well below the recommended standard of 500 to 1 set by the National Association of School Psychologists.