La. Admin. Code tit. 28 § CXXXI-2103

Current through Register Vol. 50, No. 5, May 20, 2024

Section CXXXI-2103 - Paraprofessional Qualifications

A. Definition of Paraprofessional

1. For the purposes of title I, part A, a paraprofessional is an employee who provides instructional support in a program supported with title I, part A funds including paraprofessionals working in any of the following capacities:

a. providing one-on-one tutoring if such tutoring is scheduled at a time when a student would not otherwise receive instruction from a teacher;

b. assisting with classroom management, such as organizing instructional and other materials;

c. providing instructional assistance in a computer laboratory;

d. conducting parental involvement activities;

e. providing support in a library or media enter;

f. acting as a translator; or

g. providing instructional support services under the direct supervision of a teacher [title I, section 1119(g)(2)].

2. Individuals functioning as interpreters or transliterators, who are providing communication assistance only and not instructional support, are not considered paraprofessionals under Title I if the individual possess one of the following educational interpreter certificates:

a. ancillary provisional certificate; or

b. qualified ancillary certificate.

3. Individuals who work in food services, cafeteria or playground supervision, personal care services, non-instructional computer assistance, and similar positions are not considered paraprofessionals under title I.

C. Requirements for Title I Paraprofessionals. All Title I paraprofessionals hired on or before January 8, 2002, and working in a program supported with title I funds must have met the following requirements by January 8, 2006. All title I paraprofessionals hired after January 8, 2002, must meet the following requirements to be hired:

1. possess a secondary school diploma or recognized equivalent including paraprofessionals who serve as translators or who conduct parental involvement activities; and

2. satisfy one of the following:

a. pass a state approved assessment for paraprofessionals;

b. obtain an associate (or higher) degree at a higher education institution; or

c. complete two years of full-time study at an institution of higher education.

D. Louisiana Pathways for Paraprofessionals to Meet Federal Requirements. The U.S. Department of Education specifies that paraprofessionals should be able to demonstrate knowledge of and the ability to assist in instruction in the areas of reading, writing, and math, or in school readiness. Paraprofessionals are expected to have a working knowledge of the academic areas. Louisiana offers all paraprofessionals three ways to meet federal requirements.

1. State Test. A paraprofessional who passes the Educational Testing Service (ETS) para-pro assessment will meet state and federal requirements to be classified as a highly qualified paraprofessional. A paraprofessional who is not new to the profession, passes the ACT work keys assessment, and has successful observations will meet state and federal requirements to be classified as a highly qualified paraprofessional.

2. Two Years of Full-Time Study (48 Semester Credit Hours). State, district, and post-secondary education personnel collaborated in identifying course requirements for paraprofessionals within a state approved institution of higher education that would assist paraprofessionals when instructing students in the areas or reading, writing, math, and school readiness.

3. Associate Degree. State, district, and postsecondary education personnel collaborated in identifying course requirements for paraprofessionals within a state-approved institution of higher education that would assist paraprofessionals when instructing students in the areas of reading, writing, math, and school readiness.

E. State-Approved Institutions of Higher Education. State-approved higher education institutions may offer coursework to paraprofessionals. To be approved by the state, institutions must be accredited by a nationally recognized accrediting entity or granted pre-accreditation status. Newly developed public institutions that are formally seeking accreditation may obtain pre-accreditation status from the state. A list of approved institutions is available from the LDE upon request.

F. Louisiana Definition: Highly Qualified Paraprofessional

1. New to the Profession. A paraprofessional must satisfy one of the following:

a. passed the ETS para-pro assessment;

b. has 2 years of full-time study (48 semester credit hours) from the recommended list of state-approved institutions of higher education or from an institution of higher education accredited in accordance with 34 CFR 602. A total of 15 hours of general education course requirements include English composition (3), English/reading (6), and mathematics (6). For the remaining 33 hours of coursework, acceptance of credit for a course shown on a transcript from an approved higher education institution is at school district discretion in addressing the needs of the specific job; or

c. has associate of arts or associate of applied science degree from a state-approved institution of higher education or from an institution of higher education accredited in accordance with 34 CFR 602.

2. Not New to the Profession. A paraprofessional must satisfy one of the following:

a. passed the ETS para-pro assessment;

b. has 2 years of full-time study (48 semester credit hours) from the recommended list of state-approved institutions of higher education or from an institution of higher education accredited in accordance with 34 CFR 602. A total of 15 hours of general education course requirements include English composition (3), English/reading (6), and mathematics (6). For the remaining 33 hours of coursework, acceptance of credit for a course shown on a transcript from an approved higher education institution is at school district discretion in addressing the needs of the specific job;

c. has associate of arts or associate of applied science degree from a state-approved institution of higher education or from an institution of higher education accredited in accordance with 34 CFR 602; or

d. has successfully completed the ACT, Inc., work keys skills assessments and on-the-job observation.

G. Curriculum-based Pathways for Paraprofessionals. General education and teacher preparation coursework must address the K-12 state content standards, Louisiana components of effective Teaching, National Council for the Accreditation of Teacher Education (NCATE) standards, and Praxis expectations. In addition to the ETS para-pro assessment, the state specified three curriculum-based pathways for paraprofessionals to meet federal requirements, as follows:

1. total of 48 credit hours:

a. general education coursesa}-15 semester hours:

i. English compositiona}-3 hours;

ii. English/readinga}-6 hours; and

iii. mathematicsa}-6 hours; and

b. paraprofessional courses-for the remaining 33 semester hours, acceptance of credit for a course shown on a transcript from an approved institution of higher education is at school district discretion in addressing needs of a specific job:

i. guidelines for prescriptive plan requiring additional coursework-school districts should consider at least three hours of reading and at least 12 hours from a list of available paraprofessional courses, as follows:

(a). strategies for teaching and learning;

(b). assessment of learning;

(c). classroom and behavior management; and

(d). addressing the needs of exceptional children; and

ii. discipline-specific electives may include as many as 12 hours of developmental or remedial courses;

2. associate of applied science degreea}-60+ credit hours:

a. general education courses-15 semester hours:

i. English compositiona}-3 hours;

ii. humanitiesa}-3 hours;

iii. math: algebraa}-3 hours;

iv. natural sciencesa}-3 hours; and

v. social and behavioral sciencea}-3 hours;

b. teacher preparation courses-child/adolescent developmenta}-3 hours;

c. paraprofessional courses-30 semester hours:

i. introduction to paraprofessional educationa}-3;

ii. applied literacy developmenta}-3;

iii. strategies for teaching and learninga}-3;

iv. applied assessment of learninga}-3;

v. applied classroom behavior managementa}-3;

vi. addressing the needs of exceptional childrena}-3;

vii. application of computer technologya}-3;

viii. family, school, and community relationsa}-3;

ix. health and safety in schoolsa}-3; and

x. paraprofessional practicum-teaching, learning, and record keepinga}-3;

3. associate of arts degreea}-60+ credit hours:

a. general education courses-54 semester hours:

i. English compositiona}-6 hours;

ii. humanities: English literaturea}-6 hours;

iii. math: algebra, etc.a}-12 hours;

iv. natural sciencesa}-15 hours;

v. social and behavioral sciencea}-12 hours;

vi. fine artsa}-3 hours; and

b. teacher preparation courses-9 hours. Select three of the following:

i. child/adolescent developmenta}-3 hours;

ii. educational psychologya}-3 hours; and

iii. multicultural/exceptional educationa}-3 hours:

(a). educational technologya}-3 hours; or

(b). children's literaturea}-3 hours.

La. Admin. Code tit. 28, § CXXXI-2103

Promulgated by the Board of Elementary and Secondary Education, LR 33:2056 (October 2007), amended LR 43:1315 (July 2017), LR 46:1385 (October 2020), LR 48474 (3/1/2022), Repromulgated LR 481083 (4/1/2022).

AUTHORITY NOTE: Promulgated in accordance with R.S. 17:6(A)(10), (11), and (15), R.S. 17:7(6), R.S. 17:10, R.S. 17:22(6), R.S. 17:391.1-391.10, and R.S. 17:411.