What is a paraprofessional?
A paraprofessional an aide or teacher's assistant is a special-education employee who isn't licensed to teach, but performs individual duties with assigned students and organizationally in the classroom. Your child may be assigned a one-on-one paraprofessional as part of his or her IEP, or interact with a paraprofessional assigned to the classroom. The No Child Left Behind Act expanded the qualifications required to become a paraprofessional, as well as the duties paraprofessionals are permitted to carry out.
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WATCH YOUR WORDS
​Terminology is very important to pay attention to. There is no federal legal definition for an "aide". When you use the term paraprofessional in the IEP, you are correctly requesting the federal legal definition and quality standard. If you request an "aide" those standards won't apply.
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What are a paraprofessional's duties?
They can assist the teacher and help with various duties in the classroom. Under the direct supervision of a licensed special education teacher, they support the lesson plan and can only provide direct instruction under. They can also assist with translation. Having a certified, enthusiastic, well-prepared paraprofessional can make an enormous difference in the efficiency of your child's classroom and the implementation of your child's IEP.
The No Child Left Behind Act of 2001 (NCLB) established specific criteria of new paraprofessionals as follows: Scroll down to see the abbreviated version. Click on the link to see the full version. https://www2.ed.gov/policy/elsec/leg/esea02/pg2.html#sec1119
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IN GENERAL- Each local educational agency receiving assistance under this part shall ensure that all paraprofessionals hired after the date of enactment of the No Child Left Behind Act of 2001 and working in a program supported with funds under this part shall have —
(A) completed at least 2 years of study at an institution of higher education;
(B) obtained an associate's (or higher) degree; or
(C) met a rigorous standard of quality and can demonstrate, through a formal State or local academic assessment —
(i) knowledge of, and the ability to assist in instructing, reading, writing, and mathematics; or
(ii) knowledge of, and the ability to assist in instructing, reading readiness, writing readiness, and mathematics readiness, as appropriate.
(2) CLARIFICATION- The receipt of a secondary school diploma (or its recognized equivalent) shall be necessary but not sufficient to satisfy the requirements of paragraph.
(d) EXISTING PARAPROFESSIONALS- Each local educational agency receiving assistance under this part shall ensure that all paraprofessionals hired before the date of enactment of the No Child Left Behind Act of 2001, and working in a program supported with funds under this part shall, not later than 4 years after the date of enactment satisfy the requirements of subsection (c).
(g) DUTIES OF PARAPROFESSIONALS-
(1) IN GENERAL- Each local educational agency receiving assistance under this part shall ensure that a paraprofessional working in a program supported with funds under this part is not assigned a duty inconsistent with this subsection.
(2) RESPONSIBILITIES PARAPROFESSIONALS MAY BE ASSIGNED- A paraprofessional described in paragraph (1) may be assigned —
(A) to provide one-on-one tutoring for eligible students, if the tutoring is scheduled at a time when a student would not otherwise receive instruction from a teacher;
(B) to assist with classroom management, such as organizing instructional and other materials;
(C) to provide assistance in a computer laboratory;
(D) to conduct parental involvement activities;
(E) to provide support in a library or media center;
(F) to act as a translator; or
(G) to provide instructional services to students in accordance with paragraph (3).
(3) ADDITIONAL LIMITATIONS- A paraprofessional described in paragraph (1) —
(A) may not provide any instructional service to a student unless the paraprofessional is working under the direct supervision of a teacher consistent with section 1119; and
(B) may assume limited duties that are assigned to similar personnel who are not working in a program supported with funds under this part, including duties beyond classroom instruction or that do not benefit participating children, so long as the amount of time spent on such duties is the same proportion of total work time as prevails with respect to similar personnel at the same school.
(h) USE OF FUNDS- A local educational agency receiving funds under this part may use such funds to support ongoing training and professional development to assist teachers and paraprofessionals in satisfying the requirements of this section.
Also, you may also want to consider writing the paraprofessional into the IEP as a support for the teacher, not the child. Why? NCLB limits the duties and responsibilities of paraprofessionals. A paraprofessional "may not provide any instruction to a student unless the paraprofessional is working under the direct supervision of a teacher . . " A paraprofessional may not provide one-on-one tutoring at a time when the teacher is available. (20 U.S.C. § 6319(g)); Wrightslaw: No Child Left Behind, page 201).
Read the following article "Dealing with Confusion Educational Jargon" by Suzanne Whitney of Wrightslaw, http://www.wrightslaw.com/heath/parapro.terms.htm
Collaborating with Paraprofessionals is an article that briefly explains how paraprofessionals and special ed teachers can create a cohesive relationship in the classroom.
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Distance Learning with a 1:1 Aide or Para | Tips for Success
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