A hybrid fellowship opportunity in the Michigan State University College of Education will prepare future practitioners in school psychology and applied behavior analysis.
Funded by a more than $1.2 million grant from the U.S. Department of Education’s Office of Special Education Programs, Project FOCCUS3 will support 18 practitioners develop expertise in assisting children with high-intensity needs. Participants will receive tuition coverage while they earn their degree and have supplemental support for travel and materials.
Project FOCCUS3 is co-directed by Associate Professor Kristin Rispoli (School Psychology) and Assistant Professor Charis Lauren Wahman (Applied Behavior Analysis).
“There is a dire need for school psychologists and applied behavior analysts in Michigan’s K-12 schools,” said Wahman. “We also need practitioners who attend to comprehensive well-being needs of students. That is where our fellowship, Preparing Facilitators Of Compassion and Cultural humility in Underrepresented Students in School Psychology and Special Education (Project FOCCUS3), can make a difference.”
These roles focus on supporting the complex needs of learners in the context of families and schools. Most students they serve have physical, intellectual or social-emotional challenges. Without these roles, schools and educators may not feel properly equipped to properly educate and care for the students. School psychologists and applied behavior technologists provide such care.
“The ratio for school psychologists is meant to be 1:500, but in Michigan, it is more like 1:1500,” said Rispoli. “Our rural and financially under-resourced schools have far less access.”
Rispoli’s sentiments align with the vision for Project FOCCUS3, which has goals of increasing diversity amongst practitioners in the state.
“Nationally, there are over 60,000 individuals who are credentialed as board-certified behavior analysts. Nearly 70% identify as white. Only 4% identify as Black, and 1% as Hispanic or Latinx,” added Wahman. “Out of the number of nationally accredited behavior analysts, only 12% identify as working in schools.”
She noted no statewide data currently exists to indicate how many behavior analysts are in schools in the State of Michigan.
As such, Project FOCCUS3 grads will be specially prepared in strengths-focused, evidence-based and equity- and access-oriented practices. Graduates will earn either an M.A. in Applied Behavior Analysis or an Ed.S. in School Psychology. Scholars will be eligible for certification as Board Certified Behavior Analysts® or school psychologists upon program completion.
Participants will also learn about prevention-oriented multitiered systems of support and practice such concepts in a school-based practicum. Together, the learning outcomes will promote academic and social-emotional well-being for students with high-intensity needs.
In addition to top-tier training from renowned MSU faculty, Project FOCCUS3 participants will attend guest lectures, participate in collaborative coursework and attend a summer intensive training institute. This opportunity will incorporate hands-on experiences and training, and an opportunity to reflect on their practice. The experience will be complemented through partnerships with the Michigan Multi-Tiered Systems of Support Technical Assistance Center and the Great Lakes Equity Center, with more to come.
“MSU has long been at the forefront of this type of work — improving the preparation of school psychologists and applied behavior analysts,” said Rispoli. “Through this grant, we’re able to complement, leverage and enhance the work we’re already doing, and support the future of Michigan K-12 schools and students.”
Additional MSU faculty members who part of the fellowship are Jana Aupperlee, Dante D. Dixson, Matt Brodhead and Joshua Plavnick.
Apply by January 15, 2024 to be considered to join the inaugural cohort of Project FOCCUS3. Prospective students interested in learning more about Project FOCCUS can attend a virtual information session on Dec. 7 at 4 p.m. (register to attend via Zoom).
NOTE: Project FOCCUS3 is made possible through funding from the Personnel Development to Improve Services and Results for Children with Disabilities – Preparation of Related Services Personnel Serving Children with Disabilities who have High-Intensity Needs (Assistance Listing Number 84.325R), which is provided through the United States Department of Education, Office of Special Education and Rehabilitation Services, Office of Special Education Programs. Total federal funding for Project FOCCUS3 is $1,235,524, which represents 91.8% of total costs for the project. University-based funding for Project FOCCUS3 is $109,698, which represents 8.2% of the total funding for the project.