Pennsylvania Training and Technical Assistance Network Update on Requirements for Paraprofessionals and the PA Credential of Competency A Webinar for Administrators,

Pennsylvania Training and Technical Assistance Network

Update on Requirements for Paraprofessionals and the PA

Credential of Competency

A Webinar for Administrators, Supervisors and Paraprofessionals in PA

PaTTAN’s Mission

The Pennsylvania Training and Technical Assistance Network is an initiative of the Pennsylvania Department of Education, working in partnership with families and local education agencies, to support programs and services to improve student learning and achievement.

PDE’s Commitment to Least Restrictive Environment (LRE)

Our goal for each child is to ensure IEP teams begin with the general education setting with the use of supplementary aids and services before considering a more restrictive environment.

Agenda

• Regulations Regarding Paraprofessionals

• Credential of Competency• Training Options for

Paraprofesssionals

Regulations Regarding Paraprofessionals

NCLB required Title I paraprofessionals to be qualified.

IDEA 2004 and implementing regulations of 2006 required special education paraprofessionals to meet state requirements.

PA State Board of Education included standards for special education paraprofessionals in state regulations effective July 1, 2008.

Chapter 14 Requirements

• Defines paraprofessional– Instructional and Personal Care

Assistants• Requirements

– Instructional: Qualifications & 20 hours annually of professional development•One way is a State or Local assessment

(credential)– PCAs: 20 hours annually of

professional development

NCLB and Chapter 14NCLB Section 1119 (c) Chapter 14.105.a

Each LEA shall ensure that all paraprofessionals hired after 2002 and working in a program supported with Title I funds shall have —

Instructional paraprofessionals shall meet one of the following qualifications effective July 1, 2010:

(A) completed at least 2 years of study at an institution of higher education;

   (i)   Have completed at least 2 years of postsecondary study.

(B) obtained an associate's (or higher) degree; or

(ii)   Possess an associate degree or higher.

(C) met a rigorous standard of quality and can demonstrate, through a formal State or local academic assessment.

 (iii)   Meet a rigorous standard of quality as demonstrated through a State or local assessment.

Personnel: Paraprofessionals

Instructional Paraprofessionals

A school employee who works under the direction of a certified staff member to support and assist in providing instructional programs and services to children with disabilities or eligible young children.

Instructional Paraprofessionals (cont.)

Such support and assistance includes one-to-one or group review of material taught by certificated staff, classroom management and implementation of positive behavior support plans.

Services may be provided in a special education class, regular education class, or other instructional setting as provided in the student’s IEP.

Instructional Paraprofessionals

Effective July 1, 2010 mustI. Have completed at least two years of

postsecondary study OR

II. Possess an associate degree or higher

ORIII. Meet a rigorous standard of quality as

demonstrated through a State or local assessment.

Continuing Staff Development

Beginning with the 08-09 school year, each school year, paraprofessionals must provide evidence of 20 hours of staff development activities related to their assignment.

Personal Care Assistants

Provide one-to-one support and assistance to a student, including support and assistance in the use of medical equipment (e.g. augmentative communications devices; activities of daily living; and monitoring health and behavior).

May provide support to more than one student, but not at the same time.

PCA Staff Development

Beginning with the 08-09 school year, each school year, PCA’s must provide evidence of 20 hours of staff development activities related to their assignment.

This may include training required by the school-based Access program.

Credential of Competency

One way for LEAs to prove qualified status

Credential of Competency

Order folders at www.pattan.net

Special Education Paraprofessional Credential of Competency

• Credential available through the PA Department of Education, Bureau of Special Education

• 10 Paraeducator Standards for Practice have been established in PA

• Essential skills and knowledge have been identified within each standard

• Credential is RECOMMENDED as the “State Assessment”.

Competency Assessment Checklist Means of documenting competencies

required for paraprofessional Credential

Supervisor verifies achievement of items on the checklist

Once all competencies are achieved, paraprofessional may apply for the credential

Standards for Practice

1.Foundations of Special Education

2.Development & Characteristics of Learners

3. Individual Learning Differences

4. Instructional Strategies

5. Learning Environments and Social Interactions

Standards for Practice

6.Language

7.Instructional Planning

8. Assessment

9.Professional and Ethical Practice

10. Collaboration

Competency Assessment Checklist

Each standard has a separate page that includes:

• Checklist of essential knowledge and skill competencies applicable to that standard

• Method used to achieve competency

• Level achieved for each competency

• Date achieved/supervisor certification

Achieving Competencies

Knowledge and skills may be achieved at one of these levels:

• Entry• Intermediate• Advanced

Achieving Competencies

Competencies may be achieved through one of four methods:

• Class/In-service Training• Interview• Observation/Demonstration• Portfolio

Class/In-service Training

Paraprofessional has documented attendance

and met requirements of the class/in-servicetraining approved by district/IU• Entry - successfully completed the course

and/or training• Intermediate - action plan developed for

application in job situations• Advanced - action plan implemented and

submitted to supervisor for review

Interview

When interviewed by the supervisor, paraprofessional responds to questions related to knowledge and skill competencies

• Entry - describes basic knowledge and skills with limited evidence of application

• Intermediate - describes application of knowledge and skill competencies in job situations

• Advanced - describes application of knowledge and skill competencies to job situation and describes how adaptations could be created to meet student needs

Class Observation/DemonstrationWhen observed by the supervisor in the

classroom or a simulated situation, paraprofessional employs knowledge and skill competencies

• Entry - performs job duties using basic knowledge & skills requiring some coaching to apply in job situations

• Intermediate - sometimes applies knowledge & skill competencies while performing duties in job situations

• Advanced - consistently applies knowledge & skills and adapts to meet student needs across all educational settings

Portfolio

Paraprofessional submits to supervisor a predetermined

collection of products related to the knowledge andskill competencies• Entry - products meet minimum of predetermined

requirements reflecting basic understanding of knowledge and skill competencies with limited application

• Intermediate - products meet predetermined requirements and include examples of application of knowledge and skill competencies to job situations

• Advanced - products exceed predetermined requirements and include examples of application and adaptation of knowledge and skill competencies to job situations

Note!

Not all of the skill and knowledge areas can be achieved by attending classes. Some must be demonstrated within your work setting.

Example

The following need to be demonstrated:• S1 Use strategies, equipment, materials,

and technologies, as directed, to accomplish instructional objectives

• S2 Use strategies as directed to facilitate effective integration into various settings

Paraprofessional Initiative

Credentials issued by PDE on completion of Competency Assessment Checklist

Training Plan- Current Focus

• After-school VC series• Online course aligned to the ten

Competency Standards• Summer series • Supervisor training - webinar and VC

On-Line Course

Training Materials For Your Use

Training materials from most training sessions available for use by IU’s and Districts to train paraprofessionals in-house– PPT slides– PPT with notes for trainers– Activity Packets

Visit www.pattan.net , click paraeducators, then click training materials

Contact Information www.pattan.net

Commonwealth of PennsylvaniaEdward G. Rendell, Governor

Pennsylvania Department of EducationGerald L. Zahorchak, D.Ed., Secretary

Diane Castelbuono, Deputy SecretaryOffice of Elementary and Secondary

Education

John J. Tommasini, DirectorBureau of Special Education

Patricia Hozella, Assistant DirectorBureau of Special Education

Jennifer Goldbloom, [email protected]

Monica Maiese, [email protected]