2023-1.v2.04222024 RFP – Agency Solicitation Specifications Page 1 of 5 Revised 4/22/2024

RFP27007048 - AGENCY SOLICITATION SPECIFICATIONS

Higher Education Partnerships to Develop a School Psychologist Pipeline Program

SECTION A. BACKGROUND

The RIDE received funding from the United States Department of Education’s School Based Mental Health Services Program. The focus of the funding is recruitment and retention of school psychologists.

Additionally, there is consideration for respecialization program pipelines for other school mental health/mental health professionals to seek credentialing as a school psychologist. The grant also required that the State identify high need LEAs including criteria used to determine it. RIDE selected caregiving youth as a population in need. RIDE leads the nation in supports for caregiving youth. The American Psychological Association has recognized caregiving youth as a population of focus and need for schools psychologist. American Association of Caregiving Youth is another research based resource to support the needs of caregiving youth in schools. RIDE recently published Guide for Understanding and Supporting Rhode Island’s Caregiving Youth. A summary of preparation, credentialing and scope of practice for certified school psychologists and licensed psychologists can be found in Appendix A.

RI public schools are grappling with a dramatic increase in student mental health challenges, as evidenced by surging rates of anxiety, depression, and chronic absenteeism statewide. Compounding this crisis is a shortage of credentialed school psychologists: current student-to-psychologist ratios in RI LEAs exceed the National Association of School Psychologists' (NASP) recommended benchmark of 1:500 by a wide margin, resulting in inadequate access to vital screening, intervention, and support services. These conditions underscore the need to expand RI’s school psychology workforce to provide timely support and reduce barriers to student learning, achievement, and emotional success.

SBMH providers are crucial for fortifying LEAs capacity to deliver equitable, trauma-informed supports to every student, fostering academic resilience and emotional well-being. However, misaligned structures perpetuate silos that hinder seamless care coordination. These systemic constraints evidence the profound need for expanded infrastructure; to recruit and retain credentialed school psychologists within high-need LEAs. RIDE, as the state education agency for RI, leads and supports 359 public schools across 66 LEAs statewide. These entities serve a diverse population of more than 140,000 students in Pre- Kindergarten through grade 12, many of whom face systemic barriers to mental health care.

This RFP aims to:

• Expand access to training pathways for future school psychologists

• Reduce financial, academic, and structural barriers to entry

• Create sustainable partnerships between higher education and K–12 systems

• Strengthen practicum and internship placement capacity across districts

• Create respecialization pathways for licensed psychologists that want to work in schools.

Programs funded under this RFP will contribute directly to building a long-term, stable workforce that supports student well-being, early intervention, and positive school climate. The current requirements https://www.apa.org/pi/about/publications/caregivers/practice-settings/intervention/young-caregivers?tab=2 https://www.apa.org/pi/about/publications/caregivers/practice-settings/intervention/young-caregivers?tab=2 https://aacy.org/ https://ride.ri.gov/sites/g/files/xkgbur806/files/2026-02/Caregiving_Youth_Guidebook_FINAL.pdf https://ride.ri.gov/sites/g/files/xkgbur806/files/2026-02/Caregiving_Youth_Guidebook_FINAL.pdf

2023-1.v2.04222024 RFP – Agency Solicitation Specifications Page 2 of 5 Revised 4/22/2024 from the RI Department of Education related to certification of school psychologists in grades PK-12, in RI public schools include:

PATHWAYS CRITERIA ASSESSMENT

• RI-Approved

Program

• Reciprocity

• Advanced degree in School Psychology from a regionally accredited institution

• Demonstration of meeting content competencies as prescribed by the National Association of School Psychologists (NASP)

• Met all pedagogy and subject matter testing requirements for this certification area

School Psychologist (5403): Passing Score -

SECTION B: SCOPE OF WORK AND REQUIREMENTS

Proposal Requirements Applicants must propose a comprehensive plan for recruitment and retention supports that includes, at minimum, the following components:

Pipeline Program Design including a clear pathway from undergraduate interest to graduate program enrollment with curriculum that is competency based and aligned with career pathway. Recruitment strategies that highlight careers in school psychology. This may include agreement with Community colleges.

Field Experience Development including partnerships with LEA for placement and supervisors training and capacity building. This may include stipends or tuition assistance for students.

SECTION C: PROPOSAL

1. Technical Proposal Narrative and format: Vendors must submit a technical proposal which addresses each of the following elements and is limited to twelve (12) pages (this excludes any appendices and as appropriate, resumes of key staff that will provide services covered by this request):

RI Psychologists for Caregiving Youth – Developing the Pipeline To Support Careers in School Psychology

Amount of funding requested:

Name of Partnership:

College or University applying

Name of College/University President:

Name of Organization:

Mailing Address:

Telephone:

E-mail Address:

Program Lead Name of Person:

2023-1.v2.04222024 RFP – Agency Solicitation Specifications Page 3 of 5 Revised 4/22/2024

Name of Organization:

Mailing Address:

Telephone:

E-mail Address:

Please provide the following information for the primary contact of this application:

Signatures:

Title Signature Date

Executive Summary Brief overview of the program, goals, and anticipated outcomes.

Narrative: The application narrative should be no longer than 12 typed pages and should include the following information:

I. Program Design

Provide a brief but thorough overview of the proposed program design, current program capacity and gaps; proposed program design; partnership commitments with LEAs and staffing plan.

II. Professional Support

Provide a brief but thorough overview of how candidates will be supported as they transition to the profession. Please include information on induction/ mentoring, internship supervision and any other applicable supports that may be provided.

III. Recruitment and Selection

Describe the process that will be used to recruit, screen and select individuals for the program.

IV. Program Evaluation

What are your overall goals for this program? What will be the indicators of success?

V. Program Costs

Provide a per student projection for the cost of participating in the program. Please provide a methodology of how you’ve arrived at the projection.

VI. Program Sustainability

Describe the plans for continuing the program through user fees once Prepare Rhode Island grant funding ends.

2. Cost Proposal

2023-1.v2.04222024 RFP – Agency Solicitation Specifications Page 4 of 5 Revised 4/22/2024

Provide a Detailed Budget and Budget Narrative.

3. Supplemental Bidder Attestation Form

See Appendix A on the “Overview” tab in Ocean State Procures™ for information. Vendors are required to complete, sign and submit this form with their overall proposal.

4. ISBE Proposal

See Appendix B on the “Overview” tab in Ocean State Procures™ for information and the MBE, WBE and/or Disability Business Enterprise Participation Plan form(s). Vendors are required to complete, sign and submit these forms with their overall proposal. Please complete separate forms for each MBE, WBE, and/or Disability Business Enterprise subcontractor to be utilized on the solicitation.

SECTION D: EVALUATION AND SELECTION - SOLICITATION SPECIFIC

Technical proposals must receive a minimum of 55 (78.5%) out of a maximum of 70 points to advance to the cost evaluation phase. Technical proposals scoring less than 55 points shall not have the accompanying cost or ISBE participation proposals opened or evaluated; such proposals shall not receive further consideration.

Technical proposals scoring 55 points or higher shall have the cost proposals evaluated and assigned up to a maximum of 30 points bringing the total potential evaluation score to 100 points. As total possible evaluation points are determined, vendor ISBE proposals shall be evaluated and assigned up to 6 bonus points for ISBE participation.

Proposals shall be reviewed and scored based upon the following criteria:

Criteria Possible Points

Program Design Quality & Alignment to Need 15 Points

Professional Support 10 Points

Candidate Recruitment & Support Strategies 25 Points

Program Evaluation 10 Points Sustainability Strategies 10 Points

Total Possible Technical Points 70 Points

Cost proposal 30 Points

Total Possible Evaluation Points 100 Points ISBE Participation 6 Bonus

Points

Total Possible Points 106 Points

Additional evaluation criteria can be found at:

2023-1.v2.04222024 RFP – Agency Solicitation Specifications Page 5 of 5 Revised 4/22/2024

• For those with an OSP account, see the “Requirements” tab of this solicitation in OSP for additional information on the evaluation and selection process in the “RFP Standard Specification” section.

• For those without an OSP account, public access to the full bid can be found at https://ridop.ri.gov/vendors/bidding-opportunities. Search for this solicitation, open the record, click on the “Print/Download Solicitation Summary” button in the upper right corner for all the solicitation requirements and supporting documents are found at the bottom of the page in the “Solicitation Attachments” section.

https://ridop.ri.gov/vendors/bidding-opportunities

SECTION D: EVALUATION AND SELECTION - SOLICITATION SPECIFIC