New Federal Law Brings Changes for Title I Paraprofessionals
Paraprofessionals need to be aware of provisions affecting them in the recent overhaul of the federal law on aid to elementary and secondary education. Thanks to lobbying at the national level bythe American Federation of Teachers, jobs and funding for paraprofessionals were protected from the proposed cuts, but there are some new guidelines.
Nóne Gonzalez, chair of the Texas Federation of Teachers Task Force on Paraprofessional Certification, sees this as an opportunity to develop higher standards for teacher assistants so that there is recognition for the important work performed in the classroom by paraprofessionals.
"We've been promoting meaningful professional development and reasonable standards for our profession," Nóne said. "With the new guidelines for Title I paraprofessionals being created, we have a chance to shape state and local programs so they are supportive and helpful-for paraprofessionals and their students."
The new law sets new requirements for paraprofessionals who work in programs funded by Title I, which dedicates funding for the instruction of economically disadvantaged students. Those currently employed as paras with Title I funding have four years (until January 2006) to meet a new federal quality standard, which can be satisfied in any one of the following three ways:
(1) complete two years of college;
(2) hold a two-year degree;
(3) or demonstrate, through a formal state or local assessment, knowledge of and the ability to assist in instruction in reading, writing, and math, or reading readiness, writing readiness, and math readiness.
The U.S. Department of Education now must write regulations to implement these provisions. Our national legislative staff at the AFT will be working to make sure that common sense is applied in the implementation of the new requirements. That includes defining the term "assessment," which could mean a classroom observation similar to teacher observations, with guidelines appropriate for teacher assistants.
Anyone newly hired as a paraprofessional after January 8, 2002, will have to meet the quality standard at the time of hiring. Anyone hired before January 8, 2002, will have four years to come into compliance: until January 8, 2006.
Two groups of Title I paraprofessionals are not subject to the new quality standard. They are: (1) paraprofessionals who are proficient in English and a language other than English and who provide services primarily by acting as a translator to enhance student participation in programs; and (2) paraprofessionals whose job consists solely of conducting parental-involvement activities.
In Texas, the current paraprofessional certification does not differentiate between assignments and funding sources for teacher assistants. If the State Board for Educator Certification reviews paraprofessional certification requirements in an effort to meet the new Title I guidelines, the Texas Federation of Teachers will work to ensure that state and local assessments are intelligently developed and appropriately applied.
