According to the proposed amended regulations of PSS published in the February issue of the Commonwealth Register, the changes are necessary “to address…the shortage of special education services which the Public School System is mandated to provide to the students and community of the CNMI.”
Under the proposal, special education personnel with a doctorate degree in speech pathology, audiology, occupational therapy, physical therapy and psychology are entitled to a differential pay of $10,000 during their 190-day contract.
Those with related service national certification or licensing will get $8,000 in differential pay.
“Positions under this category are: [American Speech-Language-Hearing Association] certified audiologist, ASHA certified speech-language pathologist, registered physical therapist, registered occupational therapist, and registered/licensed educational psychologist. Pay differentials in this category will be paid out on a quarterly basis, or as determined by the fiscal budget officer,” the proposed regulations stated.
Those with master’s degree in special education are also recommended to get $8,000 in differential pay annually.
Their specialized field should be in special education, early intervention, early childhood special education, deaf education, visual impairments, severe disabilities, autism, multiple disabilities, serious social and emotional disturbances, behavioral and transition specialist.
Educators with bachelor’s degree in special education will get $3,000 in annual differential pay while active related service professional employees required to work outside of their 190-day school contract will get $75 per hour.
