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 ECS Paraprofessional Policy Brief - The Education Commission of the States (ECS) convened a panel of distinguished professionals in multible facets of the paraprofessional field in late September 2005 to address the challenges states are facing and must face in the near future. The outcome of this meeting included suggestions for districts and states. These recommendations are contained in this outline policy brief....
From Highly Qualified to Highly Competent Paraprofessionals: How NCLB Requirements Can Catalyze Effective Program and Policy Development Guidelines from the ECS Paraprofessional Expert Panel  PDF - This brief is intended to help policymakers understand the issues states face in helping paraprofessionals not only meet NCLB requirements and become “highly qualified,” but highly competent as well. (Marga Torrence Mikulecky and Angela Baber, Education Commission of the States, December 2005)...
Training for Paraprofessionals: The Community College Role PDF - This report discusses the community college role in meeting No Child Left Behind requirements for paraprofessionals. It includes information on credentialing, state examples, formal assessments, policy challenges and policy recommendations. (Gina Shkodriani, Education Commission of the States, December 2003)...
Crisis Brewing? Paraprofessionals and the No Child Left Behind Act - NCLB requires that, by 2006, all employees providing instructional support – including paraprofessionals – in a program or school supported with Title I, Part A funds meet one of the following criteria: (1) hold an associate's degree or higher; (2) complete at least two years in an institution of higher education; or (3) obtain a passing score on a test that measures reading, writing and mathematics competency. This policy brief highlights key findings of an Urban Institute study focusing on this provision of NCLB, and elaborates on the policy implications of those findings. These include an information problem (many jurisdictions cannot document paraprofessional compliance with NCLB), a trade-off between complying with the spirit of the law and preventing a staffing problem and an emphasis on testing over further education. (Clemencia Cosentino de Cohen, The Urban Institute, November 2005)...
Beyond Compliance: Preparing Highly Qualified Paraeducators - The No Child Left Behind (NCLB) Act includes new requirements for all employees who provide instructional support in programs or schools supported with Title 1, Part A, funds. The new requirements for paraeducators to be considered “highly qualified” have led to questions about the impact of the law on the skills gap that the legislation was designed to address. This policy brief identifies key issues surrounding implementation of NCLB requirements for paraeducators; and discusses the problems districts face in meeting NCLB paraeducator requirements, common barriers to compliance, and strategies that are being used to meet the terms of the law. Recommendations are largely based on a 2004 Recruiting New Teachers (RNT) study. (Recruiting New Teachers, Inc., 2005)...
Roles for Education Paraprofessionals in Effective Schools - Offering policymakers and program planners an overview of strategies that can enhance the contributions of paraprofessionals, this report also offers approaches to thinking about school effectiveness and whether investments in hiring or training paraprofessionals are the best way to help learners. (U.S. Department of Education, 1997) ...
Title I Paraprofessionals: Non-Regulatory Guidance - All paraprofessionals hired after January 8, 2002, and working in a program supported with Title I, Part A funds must have: (1) completed two years of study at an institution of higher education; or (2) obtained an associate’s (or higher) degree; or (3) met a rigorous standard of quality and be able to demonstrate, through aformal State or local academic assessment, knowledge of and the ability to assist in instructing, reading, writing, and mathematics (or, as appropriate, reading readiness, writing readiness, and mathematics readiness).This guide address commonly asked questions about paraprofessional qualifications. (U.S. Department of Education, March 2004) ...
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Paraprofessionals
