Become a school psychologist while improving mental health services in our schools
School psychologists create learning environments where students, families and school staff feel safe, welcome, and supported. Our program approaches school psychology from a scientific-practitioner orientation and will prepare you to become a leader, innovator, and change agent.
Project School Psychologists PrepAred to Reach Kids (SPARK) is a Minneapolis Public Schools and University of Minnesota-Twin Cities school psychology program partnership focused on addressing the shortage of school psychologists in Minnesota while providing funding and resources to school psychology graduate students to contribute to school-based teams in the delivery of mental health services.
Through Project SPARK, we have funding for 10-12 graduate assistantships. As a project scholar, you’ll receive a graduate assistantship to provide mental health services and support in Minneapolis Public Schools in collaboration with site personnel under the supervision of both Minneapolis Public School school psychologist supervisors and embedded University of Minnesota–Twin Cities faculty.
Learn more about the background for this important initiative and the supports provided to project scholars, as well as the field of school psychology and the program here. If you are interested in connecting with a current student or faculty member, please email MHSP-adm@umn.edu for more information. In the meantime, check out this video replay from an informational session at the Psychology Graduate School Virtual Fair.
Project background and objectives
Project background
There is currently a critical need for high quality, trained mental health service providers in local schools. Minneapolis Public Schools was recently awarded more than $4 million by the U.S. Department of Education to increase the number of school psychologists providing mental health supports in schools. Through Project SPARK, our partnership aims to address this need through enhanced recruitment, training, and employment of school psychology graduate students.
Through Project SPARK, school psychology graduate students are able to provide mental health services in high-need schools as they work toward their degrees. Students will be assisted by a range of supports and services while also receiving a stipend for their work. This partnership with Minneapolis Public Schools increases capacity for social, emotional, and behavioral service delivery while creating safe environments for students. These efforts will ultimately help create critical infrastructure and capacity to support student mental health and inclusive environments within our communities.
In total, over 54,000 hours of school based mental health services will be provided in high-need LEAs over the life of the grants, thus expanding the availability of school psychologists in Minnesota.
Project objectives
Project SPARK goals are to alleviate school mental health personnel shortages and increase LEA capacity to provide mental health services to improve K12 student outcomes. Accordingly, the objectives of the projects are to:
- Remove financial barriers that inhibit recruitment and retention of school psychologists training in high-need schools;
- Provide paid, high-quality training opportunities for graduate students;
- Enhance the capacity of school psychologists to deliver a full continuum of evidence-based mental health services; and
- Increase the number of fully qualified and credentialed school psychologists in Minnesota.
Project overview and partnerships
Project SPARK
With funding from the US Department of Education, Project SPARK (S184X250054) addresses the need to expand school-based mental health services. Project SPARK lends aid to the critical shortages in the provision of school mental health services within our high-need LEAs by increasing the number of school-based providers who are uniquely positioned to build out prevention-focused MTSS structures to support students’ social, emotional, and behavioral needs. This project utilizes the partnership between the Minneapolis Public Schools and the University of Minnesota–Twin Cities school psychology program.
Check out our Project SPARK district partner, Minneapolis Public Schools.
Student training and benefits
Student trainee role and responsibilities
School psychologists serve a unique role in supporting youth mental health as they contribute expertise in the application of psychological science to mental health, learning, and behavior in schools. As a trainee, your responsibilities will include scaffolded direct intervention and assessment services, individual and system consultation, collaboration, and research.
Each funded trainee will:
- Complete 760 hours of paid practica providing school-based mental health services each year;
- Engage in both direct and indirect school-based mental health service through enhanced implementation of multi-tiered system of support (MTSS);
- Conduct intervention case studies, comprehensive evaluations, and needs assessments for students;
- Support strategic planning and systems change efforts within LEAs;
- Integrate awareness and knowledge of differences in the conduct of professional roles (e.g., research, services, and other professional activities);
- Engage in expanded, comprehensive mentoring and networking programming.
Student trainee benefits
Graduate students employed on the project are provided a range of benefits:
- Graduate assistantship with a stipend of at least $27.95/hour pay rate plus GA tuition and health benefits
How to apply
All current and prospective students in the school psychology program are welcome to apply. A student must be enrolled in the school psychology program to work on the projects. Prospective students may apply to the program and Project SPARK at the same time, but Project SPARK acceptance will be contingent on acceptance into an applicable graduate program. Prospective students should email mhsp-adm@umn.edu for the application. Upload and submit all application materials for the school psychology program, including transcripts, directly to the graduate application. For additional information on how to apply, visit the Graduate School website.