Paraprofessional Training

Description:

Properly trained paraprofessionals can play important roles in Title I schools where they can magnify and reinforce a teacher's effect in the classroom. Studies (Chambers, et al, 2000) indicate that paraprofessionals are used in many Title I schools for teaching and assisting in teaching when their educational backgrounds do not qualify them for such responsibilities. NCLB includes higher standards that educators must meet in order to ensure that students who need the most help are taught by highly qualified teachers and paraprofessionals.

Requirements for Title I Paraprofessionals

All paraprofessionals including Title I must have a secondary diploma or its recognized equivalent. This includes paraprofessionals who serve as translators or who conduct parental involvement activities. Additionally, Title I paraprofessionals whose duties include instructional support and who were hired after January 8, 2002, must have:

1. completed two years of study at an institution of higher education
2. obtained an associate's (or higher) degree;
3. met a rigorous standard of quality and be able to demonstrate, through a formal State or local academic assessment, knowledge of and ability to assist in instructing reading, writing, and mathematics (or, as appropriate, reading readiness, writing readiness, and mathematics readiness) [section 1119 (c) and (d)].

Paraprofessionals hired on or before January 8, 2002 and working in a program supported with Title II funds must meet these requirements by June 30, 2006.

Siskiyou County Plan for Paraprofessionals to Meet the NCLB Two-Year of Study Requirement

1. Two years of study is 48 standardized statewide semester units (or equivalent quarter units)
2. Acceptable coursework as defined in the Siskiyou County Plan using guidance from the College of the Siskiyous course descriptions

Siskiyou County Plan to Assist Paraprofessionals to Meet NCLB Assessment Requirements

1. Part I - Assessment of Knowledge

To assist paraprofessionals to meet the requirements of NCLB "Highly Qualified" status, a partnership was established with the Siskiyou County Office of Education (SCOE), College of the Siskiyous (COS), and Siskiyou County school districts to use the COS placement assessment, COMPASS, as the recognized formal local assessment for the purpose of determining knowledge of reading, writing, and mathematics.

a. Assessment Instrument: COMPASS

b. Agency administering COMPASS: College of the Siskiyous

c. Rationale for COMPASS as a Valid Assessment: COMPASS meets the intent of the law that the assessment will measure skills at the level of the second year of college. It is a valid and reliable assessment.

d. Benchmarks to meet the level of equivalent to the second year of college:

i) Proficiency in Math:

Mathematics Placement Test: Be eligible for math 54A or Math 56 (beginning Algebra)

ii) Proficiency in English:

Writing Placement Test: Score of 65 or higher. Be eligible for English 1A

iii) Proficiency in Reading:

Reading Placement Test: Score of 90 or higher

iv) Proficiency in Writing:

Response to prompt: Pass with a minimum score of 3 on a 1-5 scale; 1=A, 2=B, 3=C

e. Options if benchmarks are not met:

i) Retest with the COMPASS

· May retest within two weeks of initial testing

· Failure to pass the retake of the COMPASS: It is recommended to take the COS Course, Guide 70, before retesting

· If Guide 70 is not taken, a retest can be taken in 4 months

ii) Coursework that may assist with preparation for the COMPASS

· Math - Math 81, then Math 56

· English - English 96, English 52, then English 1A

· Reading - Reading 10

iii) Tutoring? Writing Lab? Reading Lab?

f. Schedule for Taking COMPASS and Testing Sites Available

i) Can be taken by coming to the Counseling Service Center at the Weed Campus or Yreka Campus between 8 a.m. and 3 p.m.

Monday through Friday

g. Score Reports

Score reports will be generated through the College of the Siskiyous

Assessment Office and certified by an authorized testing official. A copy of the report will be sent to the test taker. With permission granted by the employee, a copy of the report will be sent to the district office for a current employee and the Siskiyou County Office of Education Curriculum and Instruction Department.

The COS Assessment Office will maintain a database storing the results of the test takers for paraprofessional competency.

2. Part II - Assessment of Ability

Each district will be responsible for assessing a paraprofessional’s ability to assist in instructing reading, writing, and mathematics (or as appropriate, reading readiness, writing readiness, and mathematics readiness).

a. Options for meeting this requirement

i) Successful completion of the Siskiyou County “Ability to Assist in Instructing” training and assessment (Successful passage of the COMPASS is required prior to participation in the “Ability to Assist in Instructing” training.)

Training Format

• Two days of training required

• A proficiency exam will be given at the end of the second day of training

• Minimum proficiency/passing score = 70%

• One-half day writing instruction and assessment on Day 3 – required for those paraprofessionals who did not meet the proficiency requirement for the COS writing assessment

• Minimum of ten participants required to conduct training

• Trainings offered at the SCOE

Writing Component

• Paraprofessionals should take the COS writing assessment when they take the COMPASS

• Paraprofessionals who meet the proficiency requirement for the COS writing assessment are not required to participate in the one-half day, Day 3 writing instruction portion of the “Ability to Assist in Instructing” training

• Paraprofessionals who do not meet the proficiency requirement for the COS writing assessment must participate in the one-half day, Day 3 writing instruction portion of the “Ability to Assist in Instructing” training and take the writing assessment

• Minimum proficiency/passing score = 3 on the writing assessment rubric

• Trainers will score writing assessments. If discrepancies arise in scoring by trainers, staff from the SCOE will also score them.

ii) Successful score on a structured interview conducted by the employing district

iii) Proficiency demonstrated through structured observations as conducted by the employing district

3. Completion of Assessment

a. Successful passage of the COMPASS would meet the requirement for demonstrating knowledge of reading, writing, and mathematics.

b. Certificate of Completion – The SCOE/Employing District will issue a Certificate of Completion to all paraprofessionals who pass the COMPASS at COS and meet the proficiency requirements for the “Ability to Assist in Instructing” assessment(s), indicating they have “met a rigorous standard of quality and be able to demonstrate, through a formal State or local assessment, knowledge of and ability to assist in instructing reading, writing, and mathematics (or as appropriate, reading readiness, writing readiness, and mathematics readiness).”

  c. Paraprofessionals may be considered for hire after passing the COMPASS, and scoring at a proficient level on one of the options listed above in 2. Part II - Assessment of Ability. To maintain employment, a paraprofessional has passed the COMPASS and scores at a proficient level on one of the options listed in 2. Part II – Assessment of Ability above.

Services Available Through SCOE

The SCOE, COS, and Siskiyou County school districts have established a relationship so that all paraprofessionals have the opportunity to meet the NCLB standards to become highly qualified.

Contact:

For more information please contact Mike DeRoss at 842-8404.

Updated for school year 2007-08.