ANSWER:

As shown below, Maryland school systems employ a range of practices and formulas for
allocating psychologists.

Anne Arundel County Public Schools (AACPS)

AACPS allocates school psychologists to schools as follows:

FTE           Comprehensive Schools                                                                     
0.2             Elementary school with less than 600 students
0.4             Elementary school with 600 or more students
0.6             Middle school
1.0             High school

AACPS allocates an additional 0.2 FTE psychologist for regional special education programs, such as Multiple Intensive Needs Classes, and regional programs for students with Autism Spectrum Disorders and students with Emotional Disabilities.

Baltimore City Public School System (BCPSS)

BCPSS allocates a full-time school psychologist for every 850 students. 

Baltimore County Public Schools (BCPS)

Since 2005, BCPS has included a 0.6 FTE school psychologist allocation in its operating budget whenever a new school opens. Baltimore County Public Schools does not allocate school psychologists to schools by a formula. 

Frederick County Public Schools (FCPS)

FCPS does not have a formula for allocating psychologists. 

Howard County Public Schools (HCPS)

HCPS applies the following formula to allocate full-time equivalent (FTE) psychologists to schools and special education programs:   

FTE           Comprehensive Schools
0.4 - 0.5     Elementary school
0.5             Middle school
0.4             High school

FTE           Comprehensive Schools (Continued)
0.1             Elementary schools with more than 750 students; secondary schools with more than 1,500 students
0.1 – 0.4    Schools with identified or “targeted” need

FTE           Special Education Programs
0.1 - 0.4     Part C Regional Early Childhood Center (birth to age 3 years)
0.1             Multiple Intense Needs Program (MINC)
0.1 - 0.2     Local and regional Fundamental Life Skills programs
0.2 - 0.4     Local and regional Emotional Disability (ED) Program

Montgomery County Public Schools (MCPS)

MCPS does not have a staffing formula for psychologists.  For FY 2013, psychologists are budgeted as follows: 

Department of Special Education Services

Unit or School	FTE
Autism Unit	1.5
Deaf and Hard of Hearing Services	1.0
Developmental Evaluation Services for Children	1.5
Emotional Disabilities Services	8.0
Placement and Assessment Services	2.5
Preschool Education Program	2.5
Carl Sandburg	1.0
Rock Terrace	0.5
Subtotal	18.5

Department of Student Services

Unit	FTE
Bilingual Assessment Team	5.0
Psychological Services	68.5
Subtotal	73.5

Office of Curriculum and Instructional Programs (OCIP)

Unit	FTE
Prekindergarten and Head Start	2.805
Subtotal	2.805

Grand Total

94.805

Psychologists budgeted within the Psychological Services Unit provide psychological services within the comprehensive schools.  The psychologists provide a broad range of consultation, assessment, counseling, intervention, and crisis services.  School assignments are based upon multiple factors including overall school enrollment, special education program enrollments  (e.g., Fundamental Life Skills and School/Community-based programs, etc.), psychological referral patterns, and geographic proximity of schools assigned to each psychologist. 

Prince George’s County Public Schools (PGCPS)

PGCPS does not have a staffing formula for psychologists