Board approves multi-year contract for psychological services amid calls to recruit in-house staff
June 04, 2026 | ALBUQUERQUE PUBLIC SCHOOLS, School Districts, New Mexico
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The Albuquerque Public Schools Board of Education approved a multi-year contract to secure external psychological services for special education evaluations on June 3, 2026, while board members and public commenters repeatedly urged the district to build its in‑house workforce and revive a task force established in 2025.
Agenda item 7.13 asked the board to authorize a district purchase or expenditure that equals or exceeds $500,000 for psychological services to support special education. Staff described the contract as a four-year, no-minimum-guarantee arrangement with an estimated cap (the packet cited roughly $10 million as an upper bound). Superintendent Duran Blakey and staff said the contract provides a flexible vendor pool so the district can meet time-sensitive evaluation and IEP compliance requirements while it recruits permanent APS school psychologists.
Sarah Hager, president‑elect of the Albuquerque Teachers Federation, told the board the 2025 task force on essential and related service staffing “met only once” (October 2025) and never produced recommendations. She urged the board to vote no on the four-year commitment and asked the board to reconvene the task force to evaluate recruitment, internship program use and the long-term cost comparison between hiring permanent staff and contracting.
Board members pressed staff on staffing numbers and service models. Staff reported 9.1 FTE school psychologists are APS employees and contractors are providing roughly 14.6 FTE to complete required evaluations. The district currently lists three school‑psychology interns; staff said last year there were no qualified interns. Staff recommended the contract because, absent available in‑district personnel, the district risks delays in federally required evaluations and corresponding noncompliance. Staff also said the RFP structure and procurement rules make multi‑year vendor arrangements more efficient when a district relies on draw‑down services.
Several board members supported approval but asked for stronger recruitment efforts, an active schedule for the previously convened task force, and periodic reporting. Board member Bowman said the four‑year cap and the absence of New Mexico–based vendors on the current list were concerning; other members asked administration for a one‑year report to show progress on reducing contractor dependence.
The board approved the purchase/expenditure item and added expectations that staff continue task‑force work and provide updates on recruitment and use of interns.
Why it matters
School psychologists conduct evaluations that trigger federal timelines for special education (for example, initial evaluation timelines). Board members and staff said contracting keeps evaluations timely while the district rebuilds its permanent workforce; critics warn that long multi‑year contracts can reduce incentives and budget flexibility if not paired with a robust recruitment and internship pipeline.
What’s next
The superintendent committed to reengaging with the Albuquerque Teachers Federation to revive the task force, to report back on intern-to-hire conversion data, and to provide periodic updates on contractor usage versus in‑house FTE.
Agenda item 7.13 asked the board to authorize a district purchase or expenditure that equals or exceeds $500,000 for psychological services to support special education. Staff described the contract as a four-year, no-minimum-guarantee arrangement with an estimated cap (the packet cited roughly $10 million as an upper bound). Superintendent Duran Blakey and staff said the contract provides a flexible vendor pool so the district can meet time-sensitive evaluation and IEP compliance requirements while it recruits permanent APS school psychologists.
Sarah Hager, president‑elect of the Albuquerque Teachers Federation, told the board the 2025 task force on essential and related service staffing “met only once” (October 2025) and never produced recommendations. She urged the board to vote no on the four-year commitment and asked the board to reconvene the task force to evaluate recruitment, internship program use and the long-term cost comparison between hiring permanent staff and contracting.
Board members pressed staff on staffing numbers and service models. Staff reported 9.1 FTE school psychologists are APS employees and contractors are providing roughly 14.6 FTE to complete required evaluations. The district currently lists three school‑psychology interns; staff said last year there were no qualified interns. Staff recommended the contract because, absent available in‑district personnel, the district risks delays in federally required evaluations and corresponding noncompliance. Staff also said the RFP structure and procurement rules make multi‑year vendor arrangements more efficient when a district relies on draw‑down services.
Several board members supported approval but asked for stronger recruitment efforts, an active schedule for the previously convened task force, and periodic reporting. Board member Bowman said the four‑year cap and the absence of New Mexico–based vendors on the current list were concerning; other members asked administration for a one‑year report to show progress on reducing contractor dependence.
The board approved the purchase/expenditure item and added expectations that staff continue task‑force work and provide updates on recruitment and use of interns.
Why it matters
School psychologists conduct evaluations that trigger federal timelines for special education (for example, initial evaluation timelines). Board members and staff said contracting keeps evaluations timely while the district rebuilds its permanent workforce; critics warn that long multi‑year contracts can reduce incentives and budget flexibility if not paired with a robust recruitment and internship pipeline.
What’s next
The superintendent committed to reengaging with the Albuquerque Teachers Federation to revive the task force, to report back on intern-to-hire conversion data, and to provide periodic updates on contractor usage versus in‑house FTE.
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