Paraprofessional Resources

National Centers and Clearinghouses

The National Resource Center for Paraprofessionals in Education and Related Services provides technical assistance and information about policy questions, management practices, regulatory procedures, and training models. A bibliography is available with a section on Training Materials including Early Childhood Resources.

The National Clearinghouse for Paraeducator Resources located at the Center for Multilingual, Multicultural Research at the University of Southern California offers a variety of resources including a focus on supporting paraeducators of culturally diverse backgrounds. Resources include state and local program examples.

The National Clearinghouse for Professions in Special Education's paraprofessional resources

The National Child Care Information Center provides resources for professional and paraprofessional development in their Workforce and Professional Development site including state profiles and policies.

The Center to Inform Personnel Preparation Policy and Practice in Early Intervention and Preschool Education is funded by OSEP to study certification, training programs and personnel supply and demand for the Early Childhood Programs under the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act.

Professional Associations and Organizations

The National Education Association’s paper Paraprofessionals in the Education Workforce, written by Anna Lou Pickett frames the issues confronting the field with regard to the training and utilization of paraeducators.

The American Federation of Teachers maintains a database of state practices for paraprofessional certification and other resources.

Council for Exceptional Children Knowledge and Skill Standards for Beginning Paraeducators includes the national standards for the preparation of paraeducators of students with exceptionalities developed by the Professional Standards and Practice Standing Committee.

The Council for Exceptional Children's online journal archives for Teaching Exceptional Children features Identifying Paraprofessional Competencies for Early Intervention and Early Childhood Special Education (2001) by Killoran, Templeman, Peters and Udell.

Recruiting New Teachers, Inc. provides a Guide for Developing Paraeducator to Teacher Programs (PDF: 335kb)

Reports, Papers, and Studies

The OSEP funded Center on Personnel Studies in Special Education (COPSSE) has developed an Issue Brief entitled Paraprofessionals (July 2003) (PDF: 320kb) . An Executive Summary (PDF: 449kb) is also available.

Data Reports are available from the OSEP funded Center to Inform Personnel Preparation, Policy and Practice in Early Intervention and Preschool Education which include data on the paraprofessional workforce.

The National Resource Center for Paraprofessionals publishes a State of the Art Report - The Employment and Preparation of Paraeducators - 2003.

State Level Initiatives Related to Training and Supervision of Paraeducators, Wallace, T. & Gerlach, K. (June, 2001) (PDF: 219kb)
This analysis published by Project Forum of the National Association of Special Education Directors (NASDSE) provides an overview of selected state initiatives related to the training and supervision of paraeducators. The five states of Iowa, Minnesota, Rhode, Island, Utah and Washington are highlighted.

Designing State and Local Policies for the Professional Development of Instructional Paraeducators, Schmidt, K., Greenough, R. & Nelson, S.R. (2002) (PDF: 359kb) .
This report from the Northwest Regional Education Lab is a guide to state and local education agencies designing policies for paraeducators. Existing programs are highlighted.

The Study of Personnel Needs in Special Education (SPeNSE) provides a research fact sheet, The Role of Paraprofessionals in Special Education (PDF: 111kb)

ERIC Resources

Paraeducators - Research Connections No. 12 - Spring 2003

Supporting Paraeducators: A Summary of Current Practices - 2003

Paraeducators: Factors Influencing Performance, Development and Supervision - 1999

State Initiatives, Projects, and Resources

Special Projects and Initiatives:

Minnesota

The Minnesota Paraprofessional Consortium provides guidance to a variety of activities for the paraprofessional workforce including guiding principles, core competencies, skill assessments and training resources.

Guidance and Policies

Iowa

The state of Iowa has published a guide entitled Guide for Effective Paraeducator Practice in Iowa (1998) (PDF: 140kb) . Excerpts from the guide are available.

North Dakota

The Department of Public Instruction has developed a Resource Manual: The Implementation of Effective Paraeducator Practices in Educational Settings.

Training and TA:

Michigan

The Michigan Federation of Teachers and School Related Personnel in response to the requirements of NCLB have developed Guidelines for the Paraprofessional Portfolio Assessment.

Washington

The Washington State Office of the Superintendent of Public Instruction Special Education’s Paraeducator Project has developed competencies for special education paraeducators working in educational settings, "Recommendations for Paraeducator Competencies and Training"

Wisconsin

The Statewide Paraprofessional website is a component of the Wisconsin Department of Instruction Paraprofessional Training Initiative Grant.

Institutions of Higher Education and Community College Resources

California

The California Department of Developmental Services sponsors the Community College Paraprofessional Preparation Project for persons interested in working with infants, toddlers and young children with disabilities.

Idaho

The Idaho Division of Professional-Technical Education in collaboration with the University of Idaho has developed paratherapist aide and assistant competencies and course curriculum for Occupational, Speech and Language and Physical Therapy. The rationale and development of this initiative is described in Career Pathways in Idaho for Paratherapists by Longhurst (1997) located on the National Resource Center for Paraprofessionals Web site.

Indiana

The Early Childhood Center located at the Indiana Institute on Disability and Community has early childhood paraprofessional staff development resources.

Nebraska

Project PARA at the University of Nebraska at Lincoln offers training programs for paraeducators and the teachers who supervise them.

North Dakota

The North Dakota Center for Persons with Disabilities at Minot State University developed training modules entitled: Issues in Early Childhood Special Education. To order the modules call 800-233-1737 or email mary.mercer@minotstateu.edu

Utah

The SKI-HI Institute located at Utah State University is part of a consortium for DB-TRAC, a national preservice paraprofessional training program in deafblindness.

Vermont

The Center on Disability and Community Inclusion at the University of Vermont in partnership with the Vermont Department of Education have developed resources available at the The Paraeducator Learning and Resource Center with links to The Paraeducator Support of Students with Disabilities in General Education Classrooms Project and training content from the "Paraeducator Entry-Level Training for Supporting Students with Disabilities" Participant's Manual (CichoskiKelly, E., Backus, L., Giangreco, M. F., Sherman-Tucker, P., 2000).