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PSS seeks special needs services during summer
The Public School System has amended their pay differentials to help provide summer services for special needs students.
Amended pay differentials for a “special education psychologist,” among others, were approved by the Board of Education in their last meeting, according to chair Herman Guerrero.
The special education psychologist would be 190-day employee. The psychologist is eligible for a summer pay differential based on a fee for service to special children who need psychological services during the summer.
These services are: standard evaluation for special education eligibility at $1,200 per child; psychological evaluation on ability and achievement at $150 an hour; standard child development eligibility evaluation at $800; psychological counseling/intervention at $125 an hour; and psychological consultation with providers at $150 an hour.
Guerrero told Saipan Tribune that PSS needs services during the summer but doesn’t have the staff they need to provide these services.
Guerrero said PSS needs to provide these services according to federal guidelines.
He said these tests identify services the child needs, for example.
PSS has seen a shortage of special needs teachers, with teachers often facing overlapping responsibilities across grade levels at their schools.
