Background and Introduction

Paraprofessionals are an integral part of special education services in today's schools. They are a vital link to the student as well as the community. The use of paraprofessionals continues to increase. Their roles are multifaceted. Paraprofessionals may have great impact on students with special needs and their families in relation to reaching educational goals. These issues have impacted the need for awareness and training to strengthen the skills of the paraprofessional working in schools today.

Program Description

To meet the changing demands for skilled paraprofessionals in today's classrooms, the Arkansas Department of Education, Special Education Unit, has developed a training program for paraprofessionals who provide direct service to students with special needs. The training program is a collaborative effort designed to be informational, practical and activity based for paraprofessionals.

The required training consists of a set of Modules aimed at enhancing the knowledge of paraprofessionals relative to their work with students with special needs. The paraprofessionals receive handouts during the sessions that will serve as valuable resources for use when the training is completed. Assessments are built into the Modules to evaluate participants' learning.
 

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