No Child Left Behind Act of 2001 (NCLB)

In New York State, "two years of study" means 48 semester hours or its equivalent. [8 NYCRR 145-2.1]  Under this option, a Title I paraprofessional must successfully complete 48 semester hours.

The NCLB defines an “institution of higher education” as the term is defined in section 101(a) of the Higher Education Act of 1965, as amended. [NCLB 9101 (24)] According to that definition, an “institution of higher education” is an educational institution that:

• admits as regular students only persons having a certificate of graduation from a school providing secondary education, or the recognized equivalent of such a certificate;
  
  
• is legally authorized within such State to provide a program of education beyond secondary education;
  
  
• provides an educational program for which the institution awards a bachelor's degree or provides not less than a two-year program that is acceptable for full credit toward such a degree;
  
  
• is a public or other non-profit institution; and
  
  
• is accredited by a nationally recognized accrediting agency or association, or if not so accredited, is an institution that has been granted pre-accreditation by such an agency or association that has been recognized by the Secretary for the granting of pre-accreditation status, and the Secretary has determined that there is a satisfactory assurance that the institution will meet the accreditation standards of such an agency or association within a reasonable time.

New York State institutions, that definition includes:

• campuses of the State University of New York (SUNY); and
  
  
• campuses of The City University of New York (CUNY); and
  
  
• independent institutions authorized by the New York State Board of Regents to provide a program of at least two years duration beyond secondary education.

SUNY, CUNY and independent institutions are listed in the Directory of Colleges and Universities in New York State, which can be found at http://www.highered.nysed.gov/ocue. If an institution that a paraprofessional attended in the past does not appear in that directory, questions about the institution can be sent to nclbnys@mail.nysed.gov. Such questions should include the full name of the institution and the dates of attendance.

Note that the NCLB does not permit Title I paraprofessionals to use two years of study at private for-profit institutions, such as degree-granting proprietary institutions, to become “qualified.”

No specific course of study is required. Title I paraprofessionals must demonstrate knowledge of, and the ability to assist in instructing in, the areas of reading, writing and math, or in “school readiness.” Paraprofessionals are expected to have a working knowledge of these academic areas. [USDOE 11/15/02]