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Kentucky lawmakers hear proposal for $2,000 stipends for nationally certified school social workers and psychologists
Summary
Representatives and credentialed practitioners told a House Budget Review subcommittee a $500,000 annual appropriation would fund $2,000 supplements for full‑time nationally certified school social workers and school psychologists, arguing the stipend would aid recruitment and retention; presenters said HB 500 does not include the appropriation.
Representative Vanessa Grosso, state representative from the 88th House District, told the House Budget Review Subcommittee that her proposal (tied to House Bill 260) would provide $2,000 annual salary supplements to full‑time public school social workers and school psychologists who hold national board credentials and spend more than half their time in work consistent with that certification. Grosso said the request is included in the general fund as a $500,000 appropriation per fiscal year and that the Department of Education would be authorized to prorate payments if appropriations proved insufficient.
"Since we know the current certification number is 205 in Kentucky, that's 2 social workers and 203 school psychologists," Grosso said, and she noted that covering the currently certified population at $2,000 each would cost roughly $410,000 annually. She said the $500,000 figure provides buffer room for additional certificants.
Amy Oates, president‑elect of the Kentucky Association of Psychology in Schools and a nationally certified school psychologist, described the multi‑year, competency‑based path to national school psychologist certification, renewal every three years, and continuing professional development requirements that credentialing entails. Leslie Gilpin, a nationally certified school social worker from Jessamine County, described the school social work path (MSW, practicum, four years of practice) and said the certification process emphasizes evidence‑based practices and peer review.
Presenters framed the stipend as a recruitment and retention tool and as recognition for advanced professional training. In a brief question period Representative Bojanowski asked whether the appropriation had been included in House Bill 500; presenters replied that HB 500 did not contain the stipend appropriation "at this time." There were no votes on the proposal during the hearing.
The committee accepted the testimony for information; the presenters asked lawmakers to consider adding the appropriation or otherwise funding the stipend in the budget process.
The subcommittee moved on without taking formal action on the proposal during this meeting.
