Senate committee advances bill to join interstate compact for school psychologists

House Bill 81 (LC 610036) — sponsored in the House by Representative Ballard and presented to the Senate committee — was advanced after committee members voted to pass the measure. The bill would enter Georgia into the Interstate Compact of School Psychologists, an agreement developed with the Council of State Governments, the U.S. Department of Defense and the National Association of School Psychologists to ease certification portability for qualifying school psychologists across member states.

The measure’s sponsor, Representative Ballard, told the committee the compact "reduces barriers to certification" and "will ensure that only qualified professionals are authorized to provide services to our children." Ballard said the compact aligns with priorities the committee named earlier in the session: school safety and literacy, and emphasized that school psychologists perform many assessments related to dyslexia and other special-education needs.

Margaret Chiarelli, representing the Professional Association of Georgia Educators, testified in strong support of the bill. Chiarelli cited survey results she said showed Georgia teachers consider more school psychologists, counselors and social workers among "their top strategy to increase school safety by increasing student mental health delivery." Chiarelli also introduced a letter from Rachel Greenlee, president of the Georgia Association of School Psychologists, describing school psychologists’ training and role in dyslexia screening and crisis response.

Jody Barrow of the Professional Standards Commission told the committee that the commission’s certification staff reviewed the compact’s requirements and found they align with Georgia’s expectations for school psychologists. Barrow said some rule writing would be required if the compact is adopted, but he did not expect that to be a substantive obstacle.

Committee members asked procedural and practical questions: how many states had enacted the compact, whether the compact would lower Georgia’s certification standards, and whether the compact would help military families who move frequently. Ballard and Barrow said West Virginia and Colorado had enacted the compact and that Nebraska and New Jersey had measures in play; they also said the compact does not lower Georgia’s standards and would ease transitions for military spouses.

Senator Kent moved to pass LC 610036; a second was recorded and the committee voted to approve the bill in committee. Committee discussion after the vote emphasized that rulemaking and coordination with the Professional Standards Commission would follow if the compact is enacted.

The bill will proceed according to the Legislature’s process; committee members and witnesses said additional steps would include any required commission rule writing and coordination with the State’s certification processes.

"This is an initiative that was developed by the Council of State Governments in collaboration with the Department of Defense and the National Association of School Psychologists," Representative Ballard said during her presentation. "It will reduce barriers to certification."

Ending: Supporters framed the compact primarily as a tool to increase the pipeline of trained school psychologists and to provide district-level expertise for dyslexia screening and crisis response. Committee members expressed broad support and directed staff and relevant agencies to work through the technical steps needed for implementation if the Legislature adopts the measure.