Requesting The Hawaii State Department Of Education To Ensure Good Faith Implementation Of Its Doctoral Educational Psychology Stipend Agreements And To Establish And Fund Appropriate Educational Psychologist Positions Consistent With Contractual Commitments.
Summary
SR144 is a Senate resolution requesting the Hawaii State Department of Education (DOE) to ensure that it is carrying out its doctoral educational psychology stipend agreements in good faith. The resolution describes a stipend program created in partnership with Chaminade University to help address the shortage of school-based mental health professionals by supporting students pursuing a doctorate in educational psychology, licensure, and a future service commitment to the DOE. It notes that recipients were promised placement in Educational Psychologist or comparable positions, and that if the DOE cannot place a recipient in such a role, the recipient should not be penalized for the time that passes without placement.
The resolution raises concern that the DOE has created Mental Health Interventionist positions that may not fully match the doctoral-level training and licensure contemplated by the stipend program, and that these positions may not be widely available across the system. It asks the DOE to report on the number of stipend recipients, existing Educational Psychologist positions, the distribution and duties of Mental Health Interventionist positions, and the department’s plan for appropriate placement. It also asks the DOE to evaluate whether the current classification fits the program’s intended professional role and to identify the funding and position authority needed to expand Educational Psychologist positions statewide.
Impact
SR144 does not directly amend Hawaii statutes, create new legal duties, or appropriate funds by itself; instead, it expresses the Senate’s request that the DOE review and report on its implementation of an existing stipend and service-commitment arrangement. Its practical effect is to pressure the department to align staffing classifications and position availability with contractual commitments, and to identify what funding or position authority would be needed to expand Educational Psychologist roles statewide. The resolution could influence future budget, personnel, and workforce decisions affecting DOE, stipend recipients, and school-based mental health services.
Sentiment
The overall sentiment reflected in the resolution is supportive of the stipend recipients and favorable toward strengthening the school mental health workforce. The bill’s language emphasizes fairness, fiscal accountability, workforce stability, and the need to honor commitments made to professionals who relied on the program. Because there are no recorded votes or committee transcripts provided, there is no direct evidence of opposition or debate in the available context, but the resolution itself suggests concern that current DOE staffing practices may not be fully meeting the program’s intent.
Contention
The main point of contention is whether the DOE’s Mental Health Interventionist classification is an adequate substitute for the Educational Psychologist positions contemplated by the stipend agreements. The resolution implies disagreement over whether the department has fulfilled its placement obligations in good faith and whether it has made enough positions available statewide for doctoral-level recipients. A related issue is whether the DOE has sufficient funding and position authority to create or expand the appropriate positions, which affects both contractual compliance and the broader shortage of school-based mental health professionals.
Same As
Requesting The Hawaii State Department Of Education To Ensure Good Faith Implementation Of Its Doctoral Educational Psychology Stipend Agreements And To Establish And Fund Appropriate Educational Psychologist Positions Consistent With Contractual Commitments.