HB4021 is an appropriations bill that allocates $340,000 from the General Revenue Fund to the Illinois State Board of Education. The funding is intended to address shortages of school psychologists in Illinois through three specified strategies: hiring or contracting for a school psychology liaison within the State Board of Education, providing a grant to support a program in the Illinois School Psychology Internship Consortium, and funding a school psychologist retention program using a group consultation model.
The bill is effective July 1, 2025, and is narrowly focused on workforce development and retention in the school psychology field rather than changing education standards or school service mandates. Its practical effect would be to direct state resources toward recruitment, training, and retention efforts for school psychologists, with the goal of improving access to these services in public schools and related educational settings.
Impact
HB4021 would amend state spending by appropriating $340,000 from the General Revenue Fund to the State Board of Education for school psychologist workforce initiatives. It does not create a new regulatory program or alter existing education statutes directly, but it would authorize the State Board to use state funds for a liaison position, a consortium grant, and a retention program. The bill primarily affects the State Board of Education, public universities involved in internship training, and school psychology professionals and interns who may benefit from recruitment and retention support.
Sentiment
The bill appears generally supportive and problem-solving in tone, with a clear focus on addressing a recognized shortage in a school-based mental health profession. Because there are no committee transcripts or recorded votes provided, there is no evidence of formal opposition or debate in the available materials. The bill’s framing suggests a consensus-oriented effort to strengthen staffing capacity for school psychology services.
Contention
No specific points of contention are documented in the available bill history, transcripts, or votes. Potential areas of policy interest, based on the bill text alone, could include whether the appropriation amount is sufficient, how the funds will be distributed among the liaison, internship consortium, and retention program, and whether the State Board of Education should be the lead agency for addressing workforce shortages. However, no named opponents or competing viewpoints are reflected in the provided record.
Includes licensed school psychologists under the provisions of the general laws governing the regulations of psychologists and expands the licensing of school psychologists for independent practice.
Includes licensed school psychologists under the provisions of the general laws governing the regulations of psychologists and expands the licensing of school psychologists for independent practice.