Track the Status of State-Level Certification

Required. 30 hours of formal training; permanent

Alaska State Paraprofessional Performance Standards with three levels:  entry, intermediate and advanced

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Training standards established for paraeducators in special education programs.

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Requirements are not specified. Must have "evaluated experience and training" and "skills relevant to the position"; permanent.

Legislation outlining career ladder with LEA option (not mandatory) passed in 1998.
Current regulations specify standards and procedures that apply to teacher aides including health, age, knowledge of policies & instructional practices.

2 years of college or 50 hours is required; renewable every 2 years, requires additional 50 hours instruction or inservice.

Three-tier training program for special education. State is in the process of expanding to accommodate Title I positions.
Level 1 and 2 training provided by state.
Level 3 training provided by community colleges.

Idaho Paraprofessional Standards and Competencies outline recommended training and evaluation procedures.

Completion of a teacher aide training program approved by the superintendent or 30 semester hours required; permanent.

Special education--appropriately trained paraprofessionals may work under the direction of a teacher or related services personnel. Public agencies must provide preservice and inservice training.

New hires must complete inservice in first year of employment.
LEAs must have staff development plan that includes paraeducators.
Special education--preservice and inservice requirements.
Level 1 Certificate--granted to those who complete a recognized paraeducator preparation program with 90 clock hours of training.
Level 2 Certificate--AA degree or 62 hours of college education and two semester hours of coursework with 100 hours of supervised practicum.

Special education only
Effective May 2000--no longer in state regulations but districts must follow these standards in order to receive state reimbursement of approximately $8,000 per special education paraprofessional.
Level 1--20 hours, renewable every year.
Level 2--30 semester hours & 450 hours inservice & 2 years experience at level 1; renew every 3 years.
Level 3--60 semester hours or AA degree & 900 hours inservice & 3 years at Level 2; renew every 3 years.

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Education technician/level I--high school diploma, orientation, ongoing inservice.
Education technician/level II--2 years college & inservice.
Education technician/level III--3 years college & inservice.
All are renewed yearly.

State task force report recommending licensure standards presented to state Legislature in 1998;
2002--state standards establish high school diploma as baseline for employment. Paraprofessional certificate requires 15 hours of training and 750 hours of employment. Renewable every 5 years with completion of additional training.
Certificate is not required for employment.

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Knowledge and skill standards for special education established in 1997. State law requires LEAs to ensure paraeducators in special education have sufficient skills and also requires LEAs to provide training opportunities.

Assistant teacher: complete the reading, language arts & math portions of a current nationally normed eighth grade standardized achievement test (exempt if holding a teaching certificate); HS diploma or GED; participate in annual training provided by the district.

Instructional aides only, 60 hours college required, renewed yearly

Training standards established for special education paraprofessionals.

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HS diploma, 1 year experience; complete a 2-week orientation session on special education.
Tier 1 certified paraprofessionals must complete 50 hours in areas determined by the professional development master plan for their district.
Tier 2 and 3 paraprofessionals must complete additional training.

Paraprofessional positions are approved by the county superintendent of schools who must develop job descriptions and standards for appointment.

A paraprofessional must complete a training program designed by the local school district to meet competencies defined by the state. Training varies according to district and how it uses paraprofessionals.

Teacher aide: must fulfill civil service requirements; responsibilities are non-teaching.
Teaching assistant--temporary license: HS diploma; responsibilities are instructional in nature.
Teaching assistant--continuing certificate: 6 hours of collegiate study; one year of experience; responsibilities are instructional in nature.
Teaching assistant--level I: HS diploma; satisfactory level of performance on the New York State Teacher Certification Examination Test.
Teaching assistant--level II: all requirements of level I plus 6 hours of collegiate study.
Teaching assistant--level III: all requirements of level II plus 18 hours of collegiate study.
Teaching assistant--preprofessional certificate: all requirements of level III plus must be matriculated in a program registered as leading to teacher certification.

Department of Labor Teacher Assistant Certificate requires completion of in-service training, 2 years employment and completion of related training (six core courses in an early childhood program or a teacher assistant program offered by a community college).

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Education aide--"Skills sufficient to do the job," 1-year permit.
Education assistant--HS diploma and participation in unspecified inservice training under a 1-year permit; renewed every 4 years.

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Private schools only.

High school diploma; training at discretion of district. Knowledge and skill standards established for special education and bilingual paraprofessionals.

HS diploma, participation in preservice and inservice training programs for aides.

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Education aide--HS diploma and experience working with children.
Education aide II--15 hours of college or "demonstrated proficiency."
Education aide III--30 hours of college & 3 years as aide I or II.
Legislation introduced for revision, 1999.

Standards for special education paraprofessional roles and preparation. Work is currently under way to revise for Title I paraprofessionals.

Personnel standards for paraprofessionals included in special education rules in 2002.

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Current system defined but not mandatory. Core knowledge and skill competencies established for all paraprofessionals.

Teacher aides and teacher assistants have no standards for employment.
A paraprofessional license applies to employees working at a higher level of independence, and license sets standards for training.

Standards for special education paraprofessionals.

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