Keyed In, Logged On, Charged Up!Paraprofessionals Connecting

with 21st Century Learners

Introduction and WelcomeKeynote Speakers:

Gina R. Scala & Marilyn Likins

May 12, 2011Harrisburg, Pennsylvania

How did we get to where we are?1965 ~ 10,000 aides ~ responsibilities ~ clerical 1997 ~ 300,000 aides1999-2000 ~ 621,000 aides2006-2007 ~ 54% of 6 million students with disabilities

spend 80% of time in general education (3,240,000)2009 ~

387,845 certified special education teachers nationally455,820 paraeducators in special education

~US Department of Education: Data Accountability Center~John A. Caliso

Time is spent in…Providing instructional support in small groupsProviding one-on-one instructionModifying materialsImplementing behavior plansMonitoring hallways & study hallsMeeting with teachersCollecting data on the learning needs of

individuals with exceptionalitiesProviding personal care assistance

SPENSE, 2003

So what they say…Paraeducators have become an essential part of the special education team in developing individualized services and playing an increasingly prominent role in the instruction of individuals with exceptional learning needs.

CEC Knowledge & Skills

Council for Exceptional Children (CEC)Exciting News

Newly revised Knowledge & Skill Standards for Paraprofessionals

Just approved in AprilDiscussed in Session 8Provide a foundation for training, evaluation and supervisory practices.

National Paraeducator Leadership Forum

Sponsored by the NRCP -- May 2010

The purpose was to give State and National leaders a concentrated block of time to systematically address several critical issues.

While conferences allow us to share our programs and results, they are not the most effective vehicle for in-depth discussion and problem solving.

State & National Paraeducator Issues PROCESS

Forum Issue #1

CREATING A PERSONNEL

DEVELOPMENT (PD) STRUCTURE FOR

PARAEDUCATORS THAT:

PROMOTES CONSISTENCY STATEWIDE

AND

FOSTERS LOCALLY DEVELOPED PD TIED

TO DISTRICT AND SCHOOL STRATEGIC

PLANS.

Forum Issue #2

TRAINING (EMPOWERING) TEACHERS

TO PROVIDE SUPERVISION AND

DIRECTION TO PARAEDUCATORS

Forum Issue #3TRAINING AND TECHNICAL

ASSISTANCE FOR ADMINISTRATORS TO ESTABLISH APPROPRIATE DISTRICT AND SCHOOL INFRASTRUCTURES TO SUPPORT TEACHER/ PARAEDUCATOR TEAMS

Forum Issue #4

CULTIVATING LEADERSHIP AT THE NATIONAL, STATE, AND LOCAL LEVELS TO ADVOCATE FOR AND COORDINATE PARAEDUCATOR:

INFRASTRUCTURE DESIGNIMPLEMENTATION AND EVALUATION.

Forum Issue #5BUILDING SUSTAINABLE CAREER

PATHWAYS FOR PARAEDUCATORS

Developing partnerships with local, state and IHEs, SEAs & LEAs to establish policies, standards, and systems for career pathways. 

Paraeducators and teachers should be actively engaged in the process at all levels.

COMMON CHALLENGESClarification of roles and responsibilitiesLack of awareness:

State and local administratorsLegislators (state and national)Teachers

Lack of leadership at national, state and local level

Inflexibility of higher ed. structures & restrictions

Funding to support research and trainingInsufficient research

Think about this…

“It is amazing what you can accomplish if you don’t care who gets the credit.”

~Harry S. Truman

CONCERNSESEA Reauthorization

IDEA Reauthorization

Funding

Maintaining Status Quo

Just a thought…“Coming together is a beginning.

Keeping together is a process.

Working together is success.”

~Henry Ford

What Must Be DoneAdvocacy

“You must be at the table or you will be on the

menu”

Leadership

Implementation of Knowledge & Skills

“Drip, Drip, Drip, Away”

PARAEDUCATORSP ~ professionalA ~ attitudeR ~ responsibleA ~ abilityE ~ excellenceD ~ diligentU ~ understandingC ~ challengesA ~ authorityT ~ take a riskO ~ obligationR ~ reduce effectS ~ success

National Resource Center for Paraprofessionals (NRCP)

National Paraeducator Leadership Forum

Process, Summary & Analysis disseminated through:

E-newsletterContact us through website:

www.nrcpara.org