No Child Left Behind Act of 2001 (NCLB)

What attestationsmust LEAs provide about meeting the NCLB's requirements for Title I paraprofessionals?

Starting in fall 2002, the NCLB requires LEAs receiving Title I, Part A funds to require the principal of each school receiving Title I, Part A funds to attest annually, in writing, as to whether the school is in compliance with the NCLB's standards for both teachers and paraprofessionals. Copies of the attestations must be maintained at both the district office and the school and must be available upon request to any member of the public. [NCLB 1119(i)]

What specific attestations must schools receiving Title I, Part A funds make before January 8, 2006 about the qualifications of Title I paraprofessionals?

The USDOE has not issued guidance on this issue. SED recommends that principals of schools receiving Title I, Part A funds make attestations based on the requirements of the NCLB at the time of the attestation.

• Attestations made on or before January 8, 2006 must address whether Title I paraprofessionals hired after January 8, 2002 are “qualified” as defined by the NCLB.
  
  
• Attestations made after January 8, 2006 must address whether all Title I paraprofessionals are “qualified” as defined by the NCLB.

What are the NCLB's reporting requirements regarding Title I paraprofessionals?

As required by the USDOE in the State Consolidated Application, SED has agreed to report on the percent of Title I paraprofessionals who are “qualified” as defined by the NCLB. [New York State's Consolidated State Application, Page 75, Performance Indicator 3.3] Reporting forms and deadlines have not yet been provided by the USDOE.

How will SED obtain data for required reporting?

SED will ask LEAs receiving Title I funds to submit data on Title I paraprofessionals as required by the USDOE, either as part of their Title I end-of-year reports or in another format.

SED does not yet know the exact data elements that the USDOE will require. However, SED suggests that every LEA receiving Title I, Part A funds maintain records that will enable it to make complete and accurate reports on the qualifications of its Title I paraprofessionals.

How would an LEA demonstrate that its Title I paraprofessionals are “qualified” in the event of an audit?

SED recommends that LEAs maintain records to demonstrate that a Title I paraprofessional satisfies the NCLB's requirements for no less than six years from the end of the last school year in which the Title I paraprofessional is employed.