Western Illinois University’s School Psychology Graduate Program received a $3.6 million federal grant to address a shortage of school psychologists in rural areas.
The money from the U.S. Department of Education’s Mental Health Service Professionals Demonstration Grant Program will be used to expand training for future psychologists, according to a community announcement. The initiative is a partnership between the university and the Illinois State Board of Education.
The program will focus on rural communities in west-central Illinois where the shortage of school psychologists is most acute. Many rural districts require psychologists to take on additional responsibilities beyond their traditional roles due to limited staffing. The grant will provide structured support, mentoring, supervision and financial assistance to credentialed school psychologists, while also creating a clear training-to-employment pathway for graduate students.
The goal is to train new school psychologists across a 10-district partnership with a 70% retention rate of practitioners in these area schools.
Grant to begin in Fall 2026
The funding is expected to begin in Fall 2026 and will provide training stipends for graduate trainees, stipends for credential supervisors and expanded professional development opportunities to strengthen supervision and training capacity across partner districts, according to the announcement.
“We are really excited to partner with our LEAs that have been without an in-person school psychologist for the past few years,” said Leigh Ann Fisler, associate professor and coordinator of WIU’s School Psychology program. “This project allows us to offer a supported pathway for credentialed school psychologists, while enabling our graduate students to secure employment and provide long-term stability for the districts.”
Tracy Cruise, a school psychology professor and director of the WIU Psychology Clinic, said the grant is a significant win for the university, its program and the communities it serves.
“The grant recognizes the strength of our training model and allows us to expand the reach of school psychologists across west-central Illinois, where districts have long needed consistent professional support. It positions the University as a key partner in addressing workforce needs while creating lasting benefits for schools throughout the region.”
This story was created by reporter Nida Tazeen, NTazeen@usatodayco.com , with the assistance of Artificial Intelligence (AI). Journalists were involved in every step of the information gathering, review, editing and publishing process. Learn more at cm.usatoday.com/ethical-conduct.
This article originally appeared on Galesburg Register-Mail: WIU lands $3.6M grant to expand rural school psychology training
Reporting by Nida Tazeen, Reporter Assisted by AI / Galesburg Register-Mail
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