HI SR144

Hawaii Department of Education partnered with Chaminade University to offer doctoral stipends for educational psychology students who must complete 60 credits, obtain mental health licensure, and commit to 3 years of full-time DOE employment as Educational Psychologists.

The DOE created "Mental Health Interventionist" positions that may not appropriately reflect the doctoral-level training and educational psychology specialization the stipend program intended.

The resolution requests the DOE report to the Legislature on the number of stipend recipients, established Educational Psychologist positions, Mental Health Interventionist positions and their geographic distribution, and comparison of job duties between the two classifications.

The DOE is asked to evaluate whether current Mental Health Interventionist classifications properly reflect doctoral training and to identify funding needed to expand Educational Psychologist positions statewide.

The report is due 20 days before the 2027 Regular Session, with copies sent to the DOE Superintendent, Board of Education Chair, and Chaminade University President.