AFT Finds Most States Lagging in Support for Teacher Aides
Report shows little progress in meeting No Child Left Behind deadline

NEW ORLEANS — A report released today by the American Federation of Teachers finds that most states are not on schedule to meet a 2006 deadline in the No Child Left Behind Act (NCLB) that requires states to raise standards for hundreds of thousands of teacher’s aides who work with disadvantaged students.

The state-by-state evaluation, titled Midterm Report on States’ Efforts to Assist Paraprofessionals in Meeting NCLB Requirements, rates Illinois and New York as the only states “very well prepared” to meet NCLB’s deadline for ensuring that classroom aides, also known as paraprofessionals, meet new standards.  Kansas, New Jersey, New Mexico and North Carolina earned a “well prepared” rating.  Overall, the report found that 23 states are having at least some success in improving the quality of teacher’s aides.  But 27 states and the District of Columbia have made insufficient progress in meeting the deadline, which could force dedicated, experienced paraprofessionals out of classrooms where they are needed most.

AFT’s report measures whether states that use federal Title I funds for students in disadvantaged communities are helping paraprofessionals meet NCLB requirements.  By Jan. 8, 2006, Title I paraprofessionals must have either a two-year degree, two years of credit toward a four-year degree or a passing score on a state assessment.  The report, issued today at the midpoint between NCLB’s enactment and the deadline, was released in New Orleans at a meeting of union leaders who represent school employees.  It grades states in several areas, including whether they provide multiple assessment options for paraprofessionals, financial support for college costs and testing fees, test preparation, and helpful information on state Web sites. 

“Paraprofessionals help students from disadvantaged communities catch up with their peers from more affluent neighborhoods,” said Nat LaCour, executive vice president of the AFT.  “We need to commend the states that are evaluating and supporting these dedicated school workers, and we need to light a fire under states that are dragging their feet.”

“One great way to improve statewide student achievement is to help paraprofessionals who work with our most vulnerable students,” said Lorretta Johnson, a former paraprofessional who now serves as a vice president of the AFT.  “Not enough states are being supportive.”

The report is available at http://www.aft.org/psrp/topics/midtermreport.htm.

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The AFT represents more than 1.3 million pre-K through 12th-grade teachers, paraprofessionals and other school support employees, higher education faculty, nurses and other healthcare workers, and state and local government employees.