Maine faces a critical shortage of school psychologists. The National Association of School
Psychologists (NASP) recommends one school psychologist for every 500 students and in
Maine, the ratio is approximately one for every 2,165 students. The University of Southern
Maine, home to Maine’s only graduate programs in school psychology, is working to change
that.
Currently, there are over 60 students enrolled across USM’s School Psychology specialist and
doctoral level programs, supported by a statewide network of over 50 school and community
training partnerships. From southern Maine to rural communities across the state, these
partnerships allow students to develop their clinical skills while providing needed psychological
services to Maine children, families, and schools under the supervision of credentialed school
psychologists.
The training impact is significant. For example, during the 2025–26 academic year, USM school
psychology practicum students and interns provided more than 20,000 hours of supervised
psychological services, including more than 400 evaluations, intervention services, mental and
behavioral health supports, consultation, crisis prevention and intervention, and systems-level
work in alignment with the NASP Practice Model.
These trainees go on to become an important part of Maine’s school communities. More than
90% of recent graduates are working as school psychologists in Maine and USM is projected to
prepare more than 50 new school psychologists in five years. This is a substantial contribution to
the state, which reported fewer than 100 full-time school psychologists during the 2024–25
school year.
This growth is supported through partnerships with the Maine Department of Education, local
schools and communities, and initiatives such as Maine School Psychology CAREs Project,
which has expanded access to training and support in rural Maine. Together, these efforts are
expanding the school psychology workforce while increasing Maine students’ access to
comprehensive academic, behavioral, and mental health supports.