{"id":73563,"date":"2026-01-21T07:42:09","date_gmt":"2026-01-21T12:42:09","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/blog.utc.edu\/news\/?p=73563"},"modified":"2026-01-21T07:42:10","modified_gmt":"2026-01-21T12:42:10","slug":"utcs-rail-system-delivers-early-cost-savings-for-rural-school-districts","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/blog.utc.edu\/news\/2026\/01\/utcs-rail-system-delivers-early-cost-savings-for-rural-school-districts\/","title":{"rendered":"UTC\u2019s RAIL System delivers early cost savings for rural school districts"},"content":{"rendered":"
\"Amanda

Dr. Amanda Hardin shows off resources available to rural school districts in the RAIL Library. Photo by Angela Foster.<\/p><\/div>\n

When the University of Tennessee at Chattanooga launched the Rural Assessment Intervention Library (RAIL) System at the start of the fall 2025 semester, Department of School Psychology Program Director Amanda Hardin wasn\u2019t sure how quickly school districts would find it\u2014or whether they would find it at all.<\/p>\n

RAIL, housed within School Psychology, officially opened in late August after many K-12 districts across the state had already returned to session. Early awareness depended largely on word of mouth, she said, particularly among districts participating in Tennessee\u2019s Project RAISE initiative\u2014which supports internships in rural communities.<\/p>\n

\u201cBeing completely brand new, I really didn\u2019t know how much interest we would get right away,\u201d said Hardin, an assistant professor at UTC. \u201cAnd I really wasn\u2019t sure how much traction we would get during the first semester.\u201d<\/p>\n

By the end of the fall term, however, the early uncertainty had been replaced by measurable results.<\/p>\n

In its first 3\u00bd months of operation, the RAIL System served 19 school districts across Tennessee and provided access to 186 assessment tools and related resources\u2014saving participating districts more than $22,000 in costs they would otherwise have incurred purchasing the materials themselves.<\/p>\n

\u201cWhen we started looking at numbers, we were pleasantly surprised by just how many items we had actually used,\u201d Hardin said.<\/p>\n

The RAIL System allows qualified professionals in rural districts to check out assessments used to evaluate students for developmental delays, learning differences, behavioral needs and other educational services. There is no cost to participate.<\/p>\n

Materials are housed in a designated space within UTC\u2019s School Psychology program\u2014 part of the College of Health, Education and Professional Studies\u2014and are available to districts involved in Project RAISE.<\/p>\n

While RAIL was initially designed with school psychologists in mind, its first semester revealed a broader reach. In addition to school psychologists, the system served speech-language pathologists, occupational therapists, educational diagnosticians, gifted and dyslexia coordinators, Project RAISE interns and other qualified professionals working in special education roles.<\/p>\n

\u201cI knew school psychologists would use this,\u201d Hardin said, \u201cbut I was pleasantly surprised at the variety of individuals within school districts.\u201d<\/p>\n

Usage patterns also differed from early expectations. Hardin anticipated strong demand for specific assessments, but data from the first semester told a different story: preschool evaluations emerged as a significant need among rural districts.<\/p>\n

Hardin said feedback from participating districts has been meaningful.<\/p>\n

\u201cSome of these school districts have written us saying, \u2018Thank you for all you\u2019re doing. There\u2019s no way we would ever have been able to purchase this test kit,\u2019\u201d she said. \u201cOne of the districts told me they don\u2019t have any money for new test kits, period. So the fact that we could provide alternatives was great.\u201d<\/p>\n

Hardin said she initially viewed success through a modest lens.<\/p>\n

\u201cIf we can just do this for one, then I\u2019m happy it\u2019s a success,\u201d she said. \u201cBut to know that we are doing it for multiple districts\u2014that\u2019s huge.\u201d<\/p>\n

The early momentum also highlighted the role RAIL can play beyond active student cases. Several districts used the system to review materials before deciding whether to invest limited funds in their own assessments, particularly those focused on social, emotional and behavioral interventions.<\/p>\n

Interns and students have also benefited. In some cases, Project RAISE interns checked out materials simply to familiarize themselves with assessments their districts did not currently own.<\/p>\n

\u201cThe fact that students\u2014even ones who weren\u2019t ours\u2014were able to use it and get experience with it was exciting,\u201d Hardin said.<\/p>\n

Looking ahead, Hardin sees the first semester as a learning period rather than a pilot. The focus now is on expanding awareness and responding to feedback from participating districts.<\/p>\n

\u201cOnce someone hears about us, then it is literally within a week we get a request,\u201d she said.<\/p>\n

As the program looks toward long-term sustainability, the early cost savings remain one of the clearest indicators of RAIL\u2019s value.<\/p>\n

\u201cThe fact that in a little over three months it was $22,000\u2014that\u2019s big,\u201d she said. \u201cI think the more we get the word out, it\u2019ll be even more.\u201d<\/p>\n

The RAIL System is open from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Monday through Thursday during the academic year. Additional information is available through the UTC School Psychology webpage<\/strong><\/a>.<\/p>\n

Learn more<\/h4>\n

Visit UTC<\/a><\/p>\n

UTC School Psychology prepares to kick off the Rural Assessment Intervention Library<\/a><\/p>\n

College of Health, Education and Professional Studies<\/a><\/p>\n

School Psychology<\/a><\/p>\n

How to apply<\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

In its first 3\u00bd months of operation, the RAIL System, housed within the UTC School Psychology program, served 19 school districts across Tennessee and provided access to 186 assessment tools and related resources\u2014saving participating districts more than $22,000 in costs they would otherwise have incurred purchasing the materials themselves.<\/p>\n

Continue Reading 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