January 30, 2025
The Lincoln Public Schools submits this PROPONENT testimony in support of LB84 sponsored by Senator Rountree. This important proposal would assist in addressing a critical educator workforce shortage area by establishing the School Psychologist Interstate Licensure Compact. The licensure mechanism would remove barriers to certification, endorsement, and licensure by promoting the mobility of School Psychologists between and among the Member States in the compact in order to address workforce shortages and to ensure that safe and reliable School Psychological Services are more readily available.
School psychologists are vitally important highly qualified education specialists. School psychologists possess substantial specialized training, including identifying and delivering key academic interventions and instructional supports, providing mental and behavioral health supports, and assisting colleagues in school-wide efforts to ensure the needs of all students are being met. The interstate compact reciprocity of LB84 would help to ensure we have a wider pool available of qualified individuals in a critical position.
In the Lincoln Public Schools, we have broadened our recruiting efforts specifically for school psychologists, including actively recruiting within and outside Nebraska. LPS data on our school psychologist vacancies from recent years reinforces the need: 23-24: 3 vacancies; 24-25: 12 vacancies; and 25-26: we are anticipating up to 15 vacancies. This certainly reflects the shortage in this field and points to the need for measures such as LB84.
In conclusion, the Lincoln Public Schools thanks Senator Rountree for bringing this proposal forward and we urge the Health and Human Services Committee to advance it. Thank you.
Sincerely,
Dr. John Skretta
Interim Superintendent
Lincoln Public Schools
402-440-9092
