4222 AR - Teacher Aides/Paraprofessionals

Personnel    
Administrative Regulation No.  4222
Regulation reviewed:  July 12, 2017

TEACHER AIDES/PARAPROFESSIONALS

Qualifications and Duties of Paraprofessionals

No person shall be initially assigned to assist as a paraprofessional unless he/she has demonstrated proficiency in reading, writing, and mathematics skills up to exceeding that required for local high school seniors pursuant to Education Code 51220 (a) and (f).  (Education Code 45330, 45344.5, 45631,5)

A paraprofessional who has passed a proficiency test in another district and was employed in the same capacity shall be considered to have met the district’s proficiency standards, unless the district determines that the other district’s test is not comparable.  (Education Code 45344.5, 45631.5)

A paraprofessional shall perform only such duties as, in the judgement of the certificated personnel to whom the paraprofessional is assigned, may be performed by a person not licensed as a classroom teacher.  These duties shall not include assignment of grades to students.  (Education Code 45330)

A paraprofessional hired after January 8, 2002, to work in a program supported by federal Title I funds shall have received a high school diploma or its equivalent.

In addition, such paraprofessionals shall have met at least one of the following criteria:

  1. Completed at least two years of study (48 semester units or equivalent quarter units) at an institution of higher education
  2. Obtained an associate’s degree or higher
  3. In a manner other than the receipt of a high school diploma, met a rigorous standard of quality and demonstrated, through a locally determined assessment, knowledge of and the ability to assist in instructing either:

         a.     Reading, writing, and mathematics

         b.     Reading readiness, writing readiness and mathematics readiness

When a paraprofessional has previously worked in another district, the Superintendent or designee may determine whether any assessments conducted by the previous district satisfy the proficiency criteria of item #3 above.

Paraprofessionals working in a program supported by Title I funds may be assigned to:

  1. Provide one-to-one tutoring for eligible students, if the tutoring is scheduled at a time when a student would not otherwise receive instruction from the teacher
  2. Assist with classroom management, such as organizing instructional and other material
  3. Provide assistance in a computer laboratory
  4. Conduct parental involvement activities 
  5. Provide support in a library or media center 
  6. Act as a translator
  7. Provide instructional services to students, provided that the paraprofessional is working under the direction of a teacher

The principal of each school operating a Title I program shall annually attest in writing as to whether the school is in compliance with federal requirements regarding qualifications and duties of paraprofessionals listed above. Copies of the attestations shall be maintained at the school and district office and shall be available to the public upon request.

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