Bill to allow school psychologists limited private practice splits witnesses at committee

A bill to permit qualified school psychologists to obtain licensure for limited independent private practice prompted sharply divided testimony at the House Committee on Corporations hearing.

Representative DeSimone, the bill sponsor, said the measure is intended to expand access to services and provide clear guidelines about the services appropriate at specialist or master’s level while protecting educational roles. "This is a bill, not an exit ramp for schools," the sponsor said, emphasizing the goal of increasing access for families.

Opponents included Dr. Catherine Vieira Baker and Peter Oppenheimer, representing practicing clinical psychologists and the Rhode Island Psychological Association. Oppenheimer argued the bill would create an independent license beyond the training and scope of master’s-level school psychologists, conflict with the state’s doctoral licensing standard, and introduce jurisdictional confusion among licensing boards. He warned it would not, by itself, address school staffing shortages.

Supporters including Stephanie Paglerini, a bilingual school psychologist, said private licensure would help reduce 6-to-12 month wait lists for private evaluations (especially bilingual assessments), provide a retention tool through professional autonomy, and immediately expand the pool of specialists available to families.

The committee posed questions about staffing ratios and workforce impacts and closed the hearing without taking a committee vote.