In this Issue: Paraeducators

Introduction
Paraeducator knowledge, skills, and certification standards
Resource centers for paraeducators
NCPSE Resources for paraeducator training programs

Introduction

Each month Connections brings you practical information, research, and established programs and strategies for recruiting, preparing, and retaining well-qualified diverse educators and related services personnel for children and youth with disabilities. Through Connections, the Clearinghouse continues its 15 year history as a resource to aspiring teachers and professionals in the field of special education

This month the newsletter connects you to resources related to paraprofessionals. Annual Reports to Congress provide evidence that the number of teacher aides/paraprofessionals serving students ages 3 - 21 increased 60% from 1992-1999. In addition to their growth in numbers, paraprofessionals are growing in greater responsibility for student learning and acquiring more formal preparation. Administrators need field validated knowledge and skills for training paraprofessionals in their districts, and paras in the profession now or interested in entering the profession need to know where there are preparation programs that could lead to a certificate or to a teaching career.

Paraeducator knowledge, skills, and certification standards

Information regarding knowledge, skills, and certification standards can be found at the following sites:

The Council for Exceptional Children's Knowledge and Skills for Beginning Special Education Paraeducators

The American Federation of Teacher's Paraprofessional Certification list revised in September 2002 to include the current status of state paraprofessional standards and certification regulations

The U.S. Department of Education has released draft non-regulatory guidance (PDF format) on No Child Left Behind's (NCLB) paraprofessional requirements, covering training, assessment, funding, and related issues.

Resource centers for paraeducators

The following paraeducator resource centers can be helpful to states, school districts, and higher education institutions and provide valuable information about the requirements for paraeducator training specified in No Child Left Behind.

National Resource Center for Paraprofessionals

National Clearinghouse for Paraeducator Resources

The Para Center

NEA Education Support Personnel

AFT Paraprofessionals

NCPSE Resources for paraeducator training programs

The National Clearinghouse for Professions in Special Education's University Program Database can be searched for paraeducator training programs. The database allows keyword searches for "paraeducators" and "paraprofessionals".

The National Clearinghouse has prepared a list of all OSEP-funded personnel preparation grant programs that train paraeducators or work to transition paraeducators to fully certified special education teachers.

The Clearinghouse also has a paraeducator career profile that describes the work that paras do to support special education in a variety of settings. You can read this profile online and also download a full color PDF from our website. Use it to recruit future paras to the field of special education by sharing it with your high school career classes and career counselors.

The National Clearinghouse for Professions in Special Education is the descriptive title for the National Clearinghouse on Careers and Professions Related to Early Intervention and Education for Children with Disabilities Cooperative Agreement H326P980002 between the U.S. Department of Education and the Council for Exceptional Children. The contents of this publication do not necessarily reflect the views or policies of either the U. S. Department of Education or the Council for Exceptional Children. This information is in the public domain, unless otherwise indicated. Readers are encouraged to copy and share it, but please credit the National Clearinghouse for professions in Special Education. U. S. Department of Education Project Officer Martha B. Bokee