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Johanna Duncan-Poitier, Senior Deputy Commissioner of Education - P-16 for the Office of Elementary, Middle, Secondary, and Continuing Education and Office of Higher Education
Joseph Frey, Associate Commissioner, Office of Higher Education

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No Child Left Behind Act of 2001 (NCLB)

Main 

NCLB NYS
Field Memo
#10-2003 

Introduction

Part 1. What requirements apply to “school support personnel” in New York State?

Part 2. What is a “qualified” Title I paraprofessional in New York State?

Part 3.What are the State requirements for teaching assistants in Section 80-5.6 of the Commissioner's Regulations?

Part 4. What are the application procedures for teaching assistant certificates?

For More Information: nclbnys@mail.nysed.gov

 

Print Field Memo #10-2003 as  or PDF or WORD 

Part 2.  What is a “qualified” Title I paraprofessional in New York State?

All Title I Paraprofessionals must have a high school diploma or a recognized equivalent. Excepted as noted below, Title I Paraprofessionals must also satisfy one of the following options.  Title I paraprofessionals hired after January 2002 should be “qualified” when hired.   Others have until January 8, 2006.

EDUCATION OPTION

OR

DEGREE  OPTION

OR

STATE ASSESSMENT
OPTION

OR

LOCAL ASSESSMENT
OPTION

Complete 48 semester hours (credits) at a public or independent (private-not-for-profit) college or university.  

(Credits earned at private, for-profit institutions or non-degree postsecondary institutions are not acceptable.)

Have an associate's or higher degree from any college or university.

Pass the New York State Assessment of Teaching Assistant Skills (NYSATAS).

See http://www.nysatas.nesinc.com/ or write to  heatas@mail.nysed.gov .

A.   Be a State-certified teaching assistant with tenure achieved through a local evaluation required by Education Law.   (Achieving tenure without an evaluation is not acceptable.)

OR

B .   Pass a local assessment of the individual's knowledge of, and ability to assist in instructing, reading / language arts, writing and math (or readiness for those subjects).   A local assessment may be either developed or selected by a local educational agency and may be in any format, so long as the school district superintendent assures that it has the NCLB's essential elements.

All employers in New York State must accept these options.

All employers must accept Option A. Employers may decide whether to accept Option B from another employer.  

NOTE.   Title I paraprofessionals whose sole instructional support duties consist of serving as translators or conducting parental involvement activities need only have a high school diploma.   For further information about these exceptions and other NCLB requirements, see Item B2 and other items in NCLB NYS Field Memo #03-2003 at http://www.highered.nysed.gov/nclb03-2003.htm .

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http://www.highered.nysed.gov/nclb10-2003b.htm