Council approves ACU retraining MOU to expand school‑psychologist pipeline
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Summary
The council approved an MOU recognizing an Abilene Christian University/ESC Region 20 two‑year retraining certificate designed to produce school psychologists eligible for Texas licensure; the pilot is aimed at rural workforce shortages and admits 15 students per cohort.
The Texas Behavioral Health Executive Council voted Feb. 17 to accept a memorandum of understanding that formally recognizes an Abilene Christian University (ACU) and Education Service Center Region 20 retraining program as a pathway that will satisfy licensing requirements for school psychologists under Texas rules.
ACU and ESC Region 20 officials told the council the program is a two‑year, primarily distance retraining certificate aimed at working professionals already employed in schools (educational diagnosticians, counselors, speech‑language pathologists and similar roles). Program highlights described to the council include a rigorous 12‑course curriculum, practicum, a 1,200‑hour internship consistent with board rules, and two summer residency weekends in Abilene.
Amanda Bridal (ESC Region 20) said the program was designed from the licensing rules backward to ensure that course content, practicum and internships meet licensure requirements. "This is a program for working professionals who have a master's degree working in schools and have at least three years of experience working in those schools," Bridal said. ACU officials said the first cohort began in January, cohorts are capped at roughly 10–15 students and the program is tailored for licensure in Texas.
Council staff framed the MOU as a guarantee to applicants that completing the ACU retraining pathway will meet the agency’s requirements for licensure review (excluding criminal history and other standard checks) and noted the program aims to expand the workforce in counties with few or no school psychologists. Council members pressed on scalability, conflict‑of‑interest (a member employed by ACU asked whether recusal was necessary) and whether the model could be copied for other professions.
The council moved and approved the MOU. Staff and ACU representatives said the first graduates are expected in December 2027 and the agency will monitor outcomes; ACU reported strong demand (first application round 30 applicants; subsequent rounds over 50 and more than 100 applicants queued for future cohorts) while limiting cohorts to maintain quality.
What’s next: The council accepted the MOU and asked staff to report on program outcomes and potential snags during the pilot. ACU and ESC Region 20 will continue recruitment and coordinate with the psychology board on program evaluation and graduate feedback.
