Federal Programs

Paraprofessionals

The Elementary and Secondary Education Act (ESEA), as amended by the Every Student Succeeds Act of 2015, requires that Local Education Agencies (LEAs) ensure that paraprofessionals hired with Title I funds or working in a Title I Schoolwide Program meet qualifications that were in place on the day before the ESEA's enactment date.

Please Note: A paraprofessional is an employee of an LEA who provides instructional support in a Title I-funded program and works under the direct supervision of a teacher.

All paraprofessionals working in a schoolwide program or schoolwide building are considered Title I employees.

Districts must ensure that all paraprofessionals who are required to do so meet the qualifications required in Section 1111(g)(2)(m).  Paraprofessionals required to meet highly qualified guidelines include those who provide instructional support and work under the direct supervision of a teacher in a school-wide building without regard to how the position is funded. This also applies to those who work in a Targeted Assisted building and are paid in part or in full with Title I funds. The highly qualified guidelines for Title I Paraprofessionals should be attained before being hired by the LEA according to 34 CFR § 200.58

Paraprofessionals

Paraprofessionals who provide instructional support include those who:

  •  Provide one-on-one tutoring if such tutoring is scheduled at a time when a student would not otherwise receive instruction from a teacher
  •  Assist with classroom management, such as by organizing instructional materials
  •  Provide instructional assistance in a computer laboratory
  •  Provide instructional support in a library or media center

Because paraprofessionals provide instructional support, they should not provide planned direct instruction or introduce students to new skills, concepts, or academic content.

Individuals who work in food services, cafeteria or playground supervision, personal care services, non-instructional computer assistance, and similar positions are not considered paraprofessionals under Title I, Part A.

Requirements

All Title I paraprofessionals must have a secondary school diploma or its recognized equivalent. Additionally, paraprofessionals working in a program supported by Title I, Part A funds must have:

  •  Completed two years of study at an institution of higher education In Arkansas, 60 semester credit hours at a regionally accredited institution of higher education are required. -or-
  •  Obtained an associate’s (or higher) degree -or-
  •  Met a rigorous standard of quality and be able to demonstrate, through a formal State or local academic assessment, knowledge of and the ability to assist in instructing, reading, writing, and mathematics (or, as appropriate, reading readiness, writing readiness, and mathematics readiness). In Arkansas, the formal test accepted is the Educational Testing Services (ETS) "Parapro Assessment,” applicants must obtain a passing score of 457.

Preschool and Arkansas Better Chance (ABC) paraprofessionals must meet the criteria outlined above if their preschool program is part of the Title I Schoolwide program, regardless of how the position is funded. This also applies if the preschool program is part of a Title I Targeted Assisted program and the paraprofessional is paid in part or in full with Title I funds.

Requirements for International Degrees and Academic Records

For more information on ETS Parapro testing, please go to http://www.ets.org/parapro.

 

For more information, please contact:

Alisha Ross, Public School Program Advisor
Arkansas Department of Education
Division of Elementary and Secondary Education
Federal Programs
1401 W. Capitol, Suite 430
Little Rock, AR 72201
Phone: 501-683-1243 
Email: Alisha.Ross@ade.arkansas.gov

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