Four-year project ends with document outlining paras' knowledge and skills

The AFT’s four-year leadership in developing skills standards for two sets of education workers has concluded with the publication of the final standards. In fact, the standards for paraprofessionals and child care workers turned out to be the last product of the National Skill Standards Board, which has since gone out of existence because of lack of funding.

The AFT-led Education and Training Voluntary Partnership undertook a long and extensive project designed to put on paper the knowledge and skills required to perform the job of paraprofessionals and child care workers in a range of settings. The standards outlined in the final 95-page document—which is detailed and quite technical—were originally designed to serve as the basis for certification and assessment systems. The partnership also envisioned the standards being incorporated into vocational training leading to certification or degrees, meaningful job descriptions, high-quality preservice and inservice training, and appropriate job evaluations.

The AFT’s PSRP department is working with the George Meany Center for Labor Studies near Washington, D.C., to develop a program for college credit based on the standards. The standards also have been disseminated to many other education groups, including those that represent school boards, school administrators and community colleges.

The complete document is online at www.etvp.org/ALLFinalStandards.pdf. More information is available from the AFT’s PSRP department, 202/434-4696.