§         No Child Left Behind Act of 2001 - new requirements for TAs – Also known as Title I or Elementary and Secondary Education Act (ESEA)

 

§         RIGL 16-11.2 & related State Standards & Guidelines concerning TAs

 

§         Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA) requires that personnel serving students with disabilities meet state’s “highest standard” to that job type

 

 

1.            Instructional TAs – provide instructional or other direct services to students (&/or their parents/legal guardian) under supervision & direction of teacher or other appropriately certified professional staff (RI law, IDEA, ESEA)

 

2.            Non-instructional TAs – employed primarily as translators, solely involved in parental involvement activities, solely in non-instructional roles, e.g., food service, cafeteria or playground supervision, personal care services, & non-instructional computer assistance (ESEA)

 

3.            Other Paraprofessionals – paraprofessionals other than TAs (e.g., assistants to Physical Therapists, Speech/Language Pathologists, Occupational Therapists, job coaches, etc.)

 

 

A. Instructional TAs hired prior to January 1, 1999

POPULATION

1.      TAs who work with students with disabilities

2.      Title I funded TAs

3.      For schoolwide Title I projects, all instructional TAs without regard to funding source.

 

·         Be of good character (RI law)

·         High school diploma OR general equivalency (RI law & ESEA) OR demonstrate literacy skills (reading, writing, & math to work with teachers & students) (RI law & ESEA) & speaking skills to work with teachers & students (RI law)

·         By January 8, 2006, meet one of the following 3 requirements:

1.      At least 2 years study at an institution of higher education; OR

2.      Associate’s or higher degree; OR

3.      Met rigorous standard of quality & can demonstrate, through formal State or local academic assessment: knowledge & ability to assist in instructing, reading, writing, & math; OR reading, writing, & math readiness. (ESEA)

 

·         Be of good character (RI law)

·         High school diploma OR general equivalency (RI law & ESEA) OR demonstrate literacy skills (reading, writing, & math to work with teachers & students) (RI law & ESEA) & speaking skills to work with teachers & students (RI law)

 

As of Jan. 8, 2006, meets 1 of 3:

1.      At least 2 years of study at an institution of higher education; OR

2.      Associate’s or higher degree; OR

3.      Met rigorous standard of quality & can demonstrate, through formal State or local academic assessment: knowledge & ability to assist in instructing, reading, writing, & math; OR reading, writing, & math readiness. (ESEA)

 

As of Jan. 1, 1999, successful completion of RIDE approved TA Training Program. Exceptions:

1.      TA certification in another state,

2.      Associate’s or bachelor’s & completed training consistent with RI Standards.

 

·         Be of good character (RI law)

·         High school diploma OR general equivalency (RI law & ESEA) OR demonstrate literacy skills (reading, writing, & math to work with teachers & students) (RI law & ESEA) & speaking skills to work with teachers & students (RI law)

 

As of Jan. 8, 2002, meet 1 of 3:

1.      At least 2 years of study at an institution of higher education; OR

2.      Associate’s or higher degree; OR

3.      Met rigorous standard of quality & can demonstrate, through formal State or local academic assessment: knowledge & ability to assist in instructing, reading, writing, & math; OR reading, writing, & math readiness. (ESEA)

 

As of Jan. 1, 1999, successful completion of RIDE approved TA Training Program. Exceptions:

1.      TA certification in another state

2.      Associate’s or bachelor’s & completed training consistent with RI Standards.

 

 

B. Non-instructional TAs

·         Be of good character (RI law)

·         High school diploma OR general equivalency (ESEA)

·         Individuals serving as translators to enhance participation of limited English proficient students must be proficient in English & a language other than English (ESEA)

 

 

C. Other Parapro-fessionals

·         Those qualifications as may be recognized by the RI Department of Education for the particular position.

 

 

 

 

ParaPro Assessment

·         ParaPro Standards Setting Session – October 29, 2002

 

·         Standard/Cut Score will be recommended to Board of Regents for adoption this winter.

 

Training Resources

 

 

 

Purpose: Reconcile federal & state policy in a way that will continue to promote TAs as integral members of instructional teams in our schools, working together to ensure high levels of learning and performance for ALL children.

 

Policy Proposals & Rationale:

 

1.      Proposal: Amend RIDE Program Standards for TAs under Standard 2 which states, “Teacher assistants support teachers by participating in instructional opportunities” by adding: “2.7 assist the teacher in providing instruction in reading, writing & mathematics or reading readiness, writing readiness, & mathematics readiness”.

 

Rationale: Under RIGL 16-11.2 & State Standards, TAs hired since January 1, 1999 must, among other requirements, have completed a RIDE Approved TA Training Program. TA Program Standards specify knowledge & skills to be addressed in approved these programs. This amendment would require that TA Training Programs revise their content to ensure that TAs who complete such programs in the future will have acquired knowledge & skills called for in federal requirements, knowledge & skills that they must demonstrate through completion of a rigorous academic assessment (if they do not otherwise meet federal requirements).

 

2.      Proposal: Amend RIDE Program Standards for TAs to stipulate the following qualifications as described below. This will result in all instructional TAs having to meeting the same standards regardless or position or funding source.

 

Rationale: ESEA & IDEA impact the majority of the more than 2,200 TAs statewide. In effect, only a small number of TAs will NOT have to meet existing federal & state requirements. It seems appropriate to thus apply a uniform standard for all TAs. It is hoped that such a standard will:

 

§         Support increased quality instruction for all students

 

§         Offer TAs more flexibility in choice of TA assignments

 

§         Provide school administrators more flexibility in TA assignments

 

 

 

 

The following are the existing State & Federal Requirements for TA Qualifications that we have reviewed previously with proposed additions or changes indicated in italics and through strikethroughs.

 

 

NOTE:

 

** In the qualifications column, “in an area related to the teacher assistant role**” is not an ESEA or RI legal requirement but is recommended policy.

 

*** State recognized academic assessment – ESEA stipulates “State or local academic assessment”. “State recognized academic assessment” is recommended policy to ensure continuity and reciprocity statewide.

 

 

 

 

Population

Instructional TAs hired prior to Jan. 1, 1999 (1) TAs who work with students with disabilities (2) Title I funded TAs

(3) For schoolwide Title I projects, all instructional TAs

 

·         Be of good character (RI law)

·         High school diploma OR general equivalency (RI law & ESEA) OR demonstrate literacy skills (reading, writing, & math to work with teachers & students) (RI law & ESEA) & speaking skills to work with teachers & students (RI law)

 

·         By January 8, 2006, meet one of the following 3 requirements:

1.      At least 2 years study at an institution of higher education in an area related to the TA role**; OR

2.      Associate’s or higher degree in an area related to the TA role**; OR

3.      Met rigorous standard of quality & can demonstrate, through formal State or local recognized academic assessment***: knowledge & ability to assist in instructing, reading, writing, & math; OR reading, writing, & math readiness. (ESEA)

 

·         Be of good character (RI law)

·         High school diploma OR general equivalency (RI law & ESEA) OR demonstrate literacy skills (reading, writing, & math to work with teachers & students) (RI law & ESEA) & speaking skills to work with teachers & students (RI law)

 

As of Jan. 8, 2006, meet 1 of 3:

1.      At least 2 years of study at an institution of higher education in an area related to the TA role**; OR

2.      Associate’s or higher degree in an area related to the TA role**; OR

3.      Met rigorous standard of quality & can demonstrate, through formal State or local recognized academic assessment***: knowledge & ability to assist in instructing, reading, writing, & math; OR reading, writing, & math readiness. (ESEA)

 

§         As of Jan. 1, 1999, successful completion of RIDE approved TA Training Program. Exceptions:

1.      TA certification in another state

2.      Associate’s or bachelor’s & completed training consistent with RI Standards.

 

·         Be of good character (RI law)

·         High school diploma OR general equivalency (RI law & ESEA) OR demonstrate literacy skills (reading, writing, & math to work with teachers & students) (RI law & ESEA) & speaking skills to work with teachers & students (RI law)

·          

As of Jan. 8, 2002, meet 1 of 3:

1.      At least 2 years of study at an institution of higher education in an area related to the TA role**; OR

2.      Associate’s or higher degree in an area related to the TA role**; OR

3.