AN ACT to increase the number of school psychologists in schools.

The General Assembly of North Carolina enacts:

SECTION 1.  There is appropriated from the General Fund to the Department of Public Instruction the sum of one million one hundred thousand dollars ($1,100,000) in recurring funds for the 2023‑2024 fiscal year to increase the Instructional Support Allotment. It is the intent of the General Assembly that these funds be used to increase the amount of full‑time equivalent positions for school psychologists funded by the State to at least 675 positions. If local boards of education are unable to find school psychologists to fill these positions, the positions may be converted to a dollar equivalent to allow the local board to contract with a third party to provide school psychologist services or other positions or services allowed under the allotment.

SECTION 2.  This act is effective July 1, 2023.