| B1. |
A Title I paraprofessional is an individual who (1) has
instructional support duties and (2) works in a program supported with Title
I, Part A funds, as defined in B3.
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| B2. |
The NCLB adds a new requirement for individuals providing
instructional support in New York State’s public schools. When such
individuals are Title I paraprofessionals, as defined in B1, they must meet
both State and federal requirements. They must be:
- State certified teaching assistants (or meet applicable New York City
requirements for comparable positions); and
- “qualified,” as defined by the NCLB by the deadlines in the NCLB.
An individual’s job title, which is determined by an employer, is not
relevant for determining whether an individual is subject to either the
State’s or the NCLB’s requirements. If an individual’s job duties include
providing instructional support, the individual is serving as a “teaching
assistant” (or in a comparable position in New York City) and must be
certified (or meet applicable New York City requirements), unless the
charter school exception discussed in D1 applies. If an individual’s job
duties include providing instructional support and the individual is
“working in a program supported with Title I funds,” the individual is a
Title I paraprofessional and must meet both State (or New York City) and
NCLB requirements.
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| B3. |
A paraprofessional “working in a program supported by Title
I, Part A funds” is defined as an employee of a local educational agency
(LEA) receiving Title I, Part A funds who:
- works in a “targeted assistance school” and is paid with Title I, Part
A funds; or
- works in a “schoolwide program school”; or
- provides instructional support to a public school teacher who provides
equitable services to eligible private school students.
NOTE: BOCES, CVEEBs, State schools and Special Act School Districts are
not LEAs receiving Title I, Part A funds, so paraprofessionals employed by
these entities are not subject to the NCLB, regardless of where they provide
services.
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| B4. |
The NCLB permits Title I paraprofessionals to perform the
following duties:
- providing instructional support services;
- 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;
- assisting in classroom management;
- assisting in computer instruction;
- providing instructional support in a library or media center;
- conducting parent involvement activities; or
- acting as a translator.
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| B5. |
The NCLB requires all Title I paraprofessionals to perform
their duties under the
direct supervision of a “highly qualified” teacher. This means:
- the teacher must plan instructional activities that the
paraprofessional carries out;
- the teacher must evaluate the achievement of the students with whom
the paraprofessional is working; and
- the paraprofessional must work in close and frequent physical
proximity to the teacher.
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| B6. |
There are two deadlines for Title I paraprofessionals to be
“qualified.”
- Individuals hired after January 8, 2002 must be “qualified” when
hired.
- Individuals hired on or before January 8, 2002 must be “qualified” by
January 8, 2006.
NOTE: BOCES, CVEEBs, State schools and Special Act School Districts are
not LEAs receiving Title I, Part A funds, so paraprofessionals employed by
these entities are not subject to the NCLB, regardless of where they provide
services. |
| B7. |
A “qualified” Title l paraprofessional has a high school
diploma or a recognized equivalent when hired and meets one of the
following (unless covered by an exception):
- has at least two years of college; or
- has an associate’s or higher degree; or
- passed a formal State or local academic assessment.
EXCEPTIONS. Title I paraprofessionals need only have a high school
diploma or a recognized equivalent to be “qualified” if their duties consist
solely of:
- translating from languages other than English to enhance the
participation of limited English proficient children in Title I programs;
or
- conducting parental involvement activities.
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| B8. |
The two educational options for being a “qualified” Title I
paraprofessional are:
- two years of study (48 semester hours) at a public college or
university (e.g., SUNY, CUNY) or an independent college or university; or
- an associate’s or higher degree.
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| B9. |
The assessment option for being a “qualified” Title I
paraprofessional in New York State is either (1) the State assessment
or (2) a local assessment that is selected or developed by an LEA and
that meets the NCLB’s statutory and regulatory requirements for addressing
knowledge of, and the ability to assist in teaching, as
appropriate:
- reading/language arts, writing and math; or
- reading readiness, writing readiness and math readiness.
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| B10. |
The State assessment – the New York State Assessment of
Teaching Assistant Skills (NYSATAS) – serves both State and NCLB purposes.
The NYSATAS will be required for all candidates for teaching assistant
certificates applying after February 1, 2004. Registration will begin in
April 2003, by email or phone only. The NYSATAS will initially be
administered on June 21, 2003 and August 2, 2003 at locations across the
State. Please refer to
http://www.highered.nysed.gov/tcert/certificate/atas.htm for
further information, or write to
HEATAS@mail.nysed.gov . Individuals who pass the NYSATAS are “qualified”
as Title I paraprofessionals in every LEA in New York State. |
| B11 |
An LEA may use an assessment developed commercially for
NCLB Title I paraprofessionals. Possible options include:
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| B12 |
An LEA may use a locally developed assessment for Title I
paraprofessionals provided that the LEA provides assurances that each
assessment it uses addresses the knowledge and ability required by the NCLB,
described in B9. Locally developed assessments may be in any format,
including:
- written assessments;
- tenure reviews;
- performance reviews; or
- combinations of the above; or
- other types of assessments.
|
| B13 |
Under New York State policy, teaching assistants who are
State-certified and have achieved tenure in a review conducted in accordance
with Education Law sections 2509(2), 3012(2) or 2573 have met the NCLB’s
criteria for the local assessment option as described in Item B9 and B12 of
this Fact Sheet. |
| B14 |
Local performance reviews or other local evaluative
processes can be used to satisfy the NCLB’s assessment option provided that
the superintendent of the local educational agency assures that the
performance review or evaluative process meets the NCLB’s criteria for the
assessment option as described in Item B9. Performance reviews conducted at
any time, even before the NCLB was enacted, can be used. |
| B15 |
SED recommends that NCLB local assessments for Title I
paraprofessionals be:
- documented;
- signed and dated by the test taker and evaluator, as applicable;
- consistently used for all candidates in the same school year; and
- retained in LEA records for no less than six years from the end of the
last school year in which the individual is employed.
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