No Child Left Behind Act of 2001 (NCLB)

What funds are available for helping paraprofessionals in Title I schools meet the NCLB's requirements?

The USDOE has listed NCLB programs authorizing funds that can be used to help teachers and paraprofessionals meet the NCLB's requirements. [USDOE 11/15/2002]

• Under section 1119 of Title I, “an LEA must use not less than five percent or more than ten percent of its Title I allocation in the school years 2002-2003 and 2003-2004 (and not less than five percent in subsequent years) for professional development activities to ensure that teachers and paraprofessionals meet the qualification requirements in section 1119.” [USDOE 11/15/2002] An LEA is not required to spend the amount required for a given fiscal year if a lesser amount is sufficient to ensure that the LEA's teachers and paraprofessionals meet the NCLB's requirements. [34 CFR 200.60(a)(2)]
  
  
• LEAs also may use their general Title I funds “to support ongoing training and professional development to assist teachers and paraprofessionals.” [USDOE 11/15/2002 and NCLB section 1114(b)(1)(D) and section 1115(c)(1)(F) and (d) and 34 CFR 200.60(b)]
  
  
• Schools and LEAs identified as needing improvement must also reserve funds for professional development and these funds may be used for paraprofessionals. [USDOE 11/15/2002 and NCLB sections 1116(b)(3)(A)(iii) and 1116(c)(7)(A)(iii)]
  
  
• Title III, Part A, the English Language Acquisition, Language Enhancement, and Academic Achievement Act, authorizes LEAs to use formula grant funds for professional development of teachers and other instructional personnel providing instruction to students needing English language acquisition and language enhancement. [USDOE 11/15/2002 and NCLB section 3111(a)(2)(A)]
  
  
• Title V, Part A, Innovative Programs, authorizes LEAs to use funds innovatively in certain areas for teachers and other school personnel. [USDOE 11/15/2002 and NCLB section 5131(a)]
  
  
• Title VII, Part A, the Indian Education Program, requires a comprehensive program for meeting the needs of Indian children that, among other things, calls for professional development opportunities to ensure that teachers and other school professionals have been properly trained. [USDOE 11/15/2002 and NCLB section 7114(b)(5)]

May an LEA use the Title II, Part A Improving Teacher Quality State Grants funds to provide training for paraprofessionals?

Yes. The law allows LEAs to use these funds to provide professional development activities “that improve the knowledge of teachers and principals, and, in appropriate cases, paraprofessionals” concerning:

• one or more core academic subjects that teachers teach; or
  
  
• effective instructional strategies, methods, and skills, and use of challenging content and academic achievement standards and State assessments to improve teaching practices and student academic achievement. [NCLB section 2123(a)(3)(A)]

"Note that, provided that an LEA maintains records of the amount of Title I and Title II, Part A funds used for these professional development activities, and the Title I funds are used as permitted in the Title I statute and regulations, Title I and Title II, Part A funds may be used jointly for this purpose.” [USDOE 11/15/2002]

"In addition, Title IX, section 9101(34) states that professional development programs can be created that enable paraprofessionals to obtain the education necessary to become certified and licensed teachers.” [USDOE 11/15/2002]