Laws on Paraprofessionals
Enter an elementary classroom and gaze into the excited faces of twenty plus students and it quickly becomes clear why teachers need assistants. Add the factor of special-needs children and the necessity becomes even greater. There are many people involved in America's classrooms besides teachers and students; teacher's assistants, aides, volunteers and paraprofessionals all lend a hand in the educational process. However, there are laws at the federal, state and local level governing what each person may and may not do.
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Definition
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The term paraprofessional, sometimes called an aide, is usually reserved for unlicensed workers dedicated to special-needs children. This interaction takes place in a classroom setting as part of a school district's need for teacher's assistants.
Paraprofessionals perform non-instructional tasks like supervision and clerical work and assist with remedial education. They are often asked to help children with disabilities by feeding and grooming them. Paraprofessionals work under the instruction of a licensed teacher.
The No Child Left Behind Act
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The No Child Left Behind Act (NCLB) of 2001 changed the paraprofessional's career with strict guidelines for schools receiving federal education funds. Many researchers say this act officially coined the term paraprofessional. This act specifically targeted disadvantaged children and their right to a quality education. Prior to this act, qualifications for teacher's assistants were made at the district and state level. The NCLB Act clarified the job of paraprofessional with an official title and job description.
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Qualifications
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Section 119 of the U.S. Department of Education's No Child Left Behind Act governs the qualifications of paraprofessionals for schools receiving federal funds. This law states paraprofessionals must have an associate's degree and pass a "state or local academic assessment," including knowledge of assisting in the instruction of "reading, writing and mathematics." These requirements created a distinction between aides and paraprofessionals.
Formal Job Description and Limitations
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Following enactment of the NCLB Act, the paraprofessional job description became much more defined. Paraprofessionals are allowed to engage in one-on-one tutoring, manage instructional materials, act as a translator and provide assistance with computers and library activities.
Paraprofessionals must remain under the direct supervision of a licensed teacher. Paraprofessionals can still perform non-instructional duties and work with non-disabled children so long as the time spent is balanced evenly.
The Federal, State and Local Laws
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While the job description of paraprofessional was written at the federal level, many states have adapted this uniform description. However, the fact remains that many schools still don't meet the qualifications for federal and state funds (just under half in 2002) and these schools employ teacher's assistants and aides. It is common for local districts to have their own job descriptions for teacher's assistants and aides, not referring to them as paraprofessionals. In this case, the employees normally do not perform instructional duties (such as tutoring).
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