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News Release

Grandview School District Awarded $4 Million Federal Grant To Launch Yakima Valley School Psychology Consortium - 02/23/26

February 19, 2026

 

Grandview School District Awarded $4 Million Federal Grant to Launch Yakima Valley School Psychology Consortium

Grandview, WA — The Grandview School District (GSD), in partnership with RGI Corporation, has been awarded a $4 million federal grant to establish and lead the Yakima Valley School Psychology Consortium (YVSPC) — a regional initiative designed to address the critical shortage of school psychologists in rural, high-need districts.

The majority of the $4 million investment will directly support paid internships, practicum placements, and travel costs for school psychology graduate students serving in rural districts. By removing financial barriers and creating structured, high-quality placements, the consortium aims to build a sustainable, locally rooted workforce dedicated to serving the region’s students and families.

 

This four-year grant positions Grandview School District as the fiscal agent and lead district in a collaborative effort serving students across the Yakima Valley and surrounding communities.

 

“This grant represents transformational investment in the mental health infrastructure of students and districts in rural Washington,” said Dr. Rob Darling, Superintendent of Grandview School District. “We are not only addressing immediate staffing shortages — we are building a long-term pipeline of highly trained school psychologists who understand and are committed to our communities.”

A Regional Partnership

The consortium includes the following partner school districts:

  • Mt. Adams School District
  • Wapato School District
  • Sunnyside School District
  • Mabton School District
  • Toppenish School District
  • Ephrata School District
  • Othello School District

Higher education partners include:

  • Central Washington University (CWU)
  • Eastern Washington University (EWU)

Both universities will collaborate to identify, prepare, and supervise graduate candidates, ensuring practicum and internship experiences align with National Association of School Psychologists (NASP) credentialing standards.

Recognition of RGI Corporation.

Grandview School District extends sincere appreciation to RGI Corporation for their exceptional grant writing leadership and ongoing evaluation support. RGI played a critical role in developing the grant proposal and will continue to assist with data collection, outcome analysis, quarterly reporting, and federal performance reporting throughout the life of the grant.

“This award is the result of a true collaboration between districts, universities, and RGI,” Darling added. “Their expertise and commitment to rural communities made this opportunity possible.”

What the Grant Will Accomplish

Over the four-year period, the consortium will:

  • Recruit, train, and place graduate students into high-need rural school districts
  • Provide paid internship and practicum stipends
  • Increase recruitment and retention of qualified school psychologists
  • Reduce school psychologist-to-student ratios
  • Establish sustainable systems for long-term workforce development beyond the life of the grant

Grandview School District will oversee grant management, implementation across participating districts, university coordination, and fiscal stewardship. The grant will fund a full-time Project Director and a .5 Administrative Assistant to support consortium operations for four years.

The initiative’s long-term goal is to eliminate rural school psychologist shortages while strengthening evidence-based mental health services for students throughout the Yakima Valley region.

Building Sustainable Infrastructure

Beyond recruitment and placement, the consortium will develop sustainable infrastructure to maintain placements, hiring pipelines, and training systems beyond the life of the grant. By year four, the model will be positioned for replication and expansion to other rural regions facing similar workforce challenges.

“This is about addressing a significant need in our region,” Darling said. “Students in rural districts deserve the same access to high-quality supports as students anywhere in the state. Through this consortium, we are taking bold, strategic action to make that a reality.”

 

-Dr. Rob Darling

Superintendent

 

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Grandview School District Awarded $4 Million Federal Grant To Launch Yakima Valley School Psychology Consortium - 02/23/26

February 19, 2026

 

Grandview School District Awarded $4 Million Federal Grant to Launch Yakima Valley School Psychology Consortium

Grandview, WA — The Grandview School District (GSD), in partnership with RGI Corporation, has been awarded a $4 million federal grant to establish and lead the Yakima Valley School Psychology Consortium (YVSPC) — a regional initiative designed to address the critical shortage of school psychologists in rural, high-need districts.

The majority of the $4 million investment will directly support paid internships, practicum placements, and travel costs for school psychology graduate students serving in rural districts. By removing financial barriers and creating structured, high-quality placements, the consortium aims to build a sustainable, locally rooted workforce dedicated to serving the region’s students and families.

 

This four-year grant positions Grandview School District as the fiscal agent and lead district in a collaborative effort serving students across the Yakima Valley and surrounding communities.

 

“This grant represents transformational investment in the mental health infrastructure of students and districts in rural Washington,” said Dr. Rob Darling, Superintendent of Grandview School District. “We are not only addressing immediate staffing shortages — we are building a long-term pipeline of highly trained school psychologists who understand and are committed to our communities.”

A Regional Partnership

The consortium includes the following partner school districts:

  • Mt. Adams School District
  • Wapato School District
  • Sunnyside School District
  • Mabton School District
  • Toppenish School District
  • Ephrata School District
  • Othello School District

Higher education partners include:

  • Central Washington University (CWU)
  • Eastern Washington University (EWU)

Both universities will collaborate to identify, prepare, and supervise graduate candidates, ensuring practicum and internship experiences align with National Association of School Psychologists (NASP) credentialing standards.

Recognition of RGI Corporation.

Grandview School District extends sincere appreciation to RGI Corporation for their exceptional grant writing leadership and ongoing evaluation support. RGI played a critical role in developing the grant proposal and will continue to assist with data collection, outcome analysis, quarterly reporting, and federal performance reporting throughout the life of the grant.

“This award is the result of a true collaboration between districts, universities, and RGI,” Darling added. “Their expertise and commitment to rural communities made this opportunity possible.”

What the Grant Will Accomplish

Over the four-year period, the consortium will:

  • Recruit, train, and place graduate students into high-need rural school districts
  • Provide paid internship and practicum stipends
  • Increase recruitment and retention of qualified school psychologists
  • Reduce school psychologist-to-student ratios
  • Establish sustainable systems for long-term workforce development beyond the life of the grant

Grandview School District will oversee grant management, implementation across participating districts, university coordination, and fiscal stewardship. The grant will fund a full-time Project Director and a .5 Administrative Assistant to support consortium operations for four years.

The initiative’s long-term goal is to eliminate rural school psychologist shortages while strengthening evidence-based mental health services for students throughout the Yakima Valley region.

Building Sustainable Infrastructure

Beyond recruitment and placement, the consortium will develop sustainable infrastructure to maintain placements, hiring pipelines, and training systems beyond the life of the grant. By year four, the model will be positioned for replication and expansion to other rural regions facing similar workforce challenges.

“This is about addressing a significant need in our region,” Darling said. “Students in rural districts deserve the same access to high-quality supports as students anywhere in the state. Through this consortium, we are taking bold, strategic action to make that a reality.”

 

-Dr. Rob Darling

Superintendent

 

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