Kean University Awarded $1.6 Million to Expand Pipeline of School Psychologists in High-Need School Districts
Kean will earn $400,000 each year for the next four years as part of a sub-award through the NJDOE
Kean University will receive $1.6 million over four years through a federal sub-award administered by the New Jersey Department of Education (NJDOE) to help expand the number of school psychologists serving students in high-need and rural school districts across New Jersey.
Through the initiative, second- and fourth-year doctoral students in Kean’s School and Clinical Psychology (Psy.D.) program will be placed in supervised, school-based roles, where they will receive hands-on training and mentorship from licensed school psychologists serving as on-site supervisors.
“This initiative reflects Kean’s deep commitment to public mental health and impactful community engagement,” said James Konopack, Ph.D., dean of the College of Health Professions and Human Services at Kean. “By placing our doctoral students in supervised, school-based roles, we are advancing both their academic excellence and their readiness to serve in high-need districts. It’s a powerful model that strengthens the mental health workforce while expanding access to critical services for underserved students.”
The funding is part of a broader $208 million national initiative supported by the U.S. Department of Education’s Mental Health Service Professional Demonstration and School-Based Mental Health programs. The initiative aims to increase the number of credentialed mental health service providers working in schools, with a focus on rural and underserved and high-need districts. Kean is one of only two universities in New Jersey selected to partner with the NJDOE on this effort.
The award will support a range of initiatives designed to provide evidence-based support for students, strengthen the school psychology workforce pipeline, lower student to school psychologist ratios and increase the retention rates of qualified mental health service providers. Funding will provide stipends for paid internships and practicum placements, as well as reimbursement for licensed supervisors overseeing students’ on-the-job training.
Kean Associate Professor Aaron Gubi, Ph.D., worked with Kean’s Office of Research and Sponsored Programs to apply for the award.
“Kean’s program is unique in that our students earn a combined degree that prepares them to work as both school and clinical psychologists, and we are the only program in the state to offer this,” Gubi said. “That combination helped position Kean as a strong candidate for this award.”
In addition to supporting student training, the sub-award includes funding for data collection and quarterly reporting to the NJDOE, as well as long-term sustainability planning aligned with the state’s mental health initiatives. The model enhances clinical preparation for students while simultaneously expanding district-level capacity to provide supervision and services.