Redesignating and Celebrating National Paraprofessionals and School-Related Personnel Week

WHEREAS, the AFT represents more than 370,000 paraprofessionals, bus drivers, custodial and maintenance employees, health assistants, clerical employees, secretarial staff and other school and college support staff (PSRPs) in schools and colleges across the nation; and

WHEREAS, members who perform this work may be called many different things, from paraprofessionals and school-related personnel to education support professionals, college support staff, classified staff and many other school and college support staff names; and

WHEREAS, the contribution of paraprofessionals and school-related personnel to the education community is integral and significant, and their work deserves recognition; and

WHEREAS, American Education Week is celebrated and sponsored by the National Education Association, American Legion, National PTA, U.S. Department of Education and more than a dozen other organizations during the third week of November, with the third Wednesday of November designated as Education Support Professionals Day; and

WHEREAS, there are many profession-specific days of celebration, such as National Custodian Appreciation Day, School Lunch Hero Day, Paraprofessional Appreciation Day and School Bus Driver Appreciation Day, that have been created by various organizations and that we encourage employers to honor and celebrate; and

WHEREAS, the AFT passed a resolution in 2022 titled “Designating and Celebrating National Paraprofessionals and School-Related Personnel Week,” which designated the first week of October as National Paraprofessionals and School-Related Personnel Week; and

WHEREAS, paraprofessionals and school-related personnel in many states are members of both the AFT and the NEA; and

WHEREAS, aligning the AFT’s celebration with the NEA’s celebration and the U.S. Department of Education’s celebration of PSRP members would help build consistency and encourage employers to acknowledge and celebrate their staff with fidelity every year; and

WHEREAS, designating the third week of November as Paraprofessionals and School-Related Personnel Week does not negate or discourage employers or states from celebrating PSRP members at other times throughout the year:

RESOLVED, that the AFT shall redesignate National Paraprofessionals and School-Related Personnel Week to the third week of November; and

RESOLVED, that the AFT shall uplift the contributions, work, stories and voices of PSRP members in honor of National Paraprofessionals and School-Related Personnel Week; and

RESOLVED, that the AFT will encourage employers to celebrate their staff throughout the third week of November, with a particular focus on PSRP staff on the third Wednesday in November; and

RESOLVED, that the AFT will encourage businesses that typically offer discounts and perks to teachers during Teacher Appreciation Week to offer similar discounts and perks to school and college staff members during the third week of November; and

RESOLVED, that we encourage employers to celebrate staff during American Education Week and also during job-specific appreciation days, such as Custodian Appreciation Day, School Lunch Hero Day, Paraprofessional Appreciation Day, School Bus Driver Appreciation Day and others, keeping in mind that potential calendar conflicts, inclement weather, school closures and other unforeseen circumstances may impact when celebrations would be most meaningful, and we encourage employers to honor the intent of that celebration at a time they deem most appropriate.

Adopted July 18, 2026