Georgia Professional Standards Commission

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Georgia Professional Standards Commission
ParaProfessional Update
February 05, 2003
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TOPICS
PARAPROFESSIONAL

• Old Parapro Rule
• New ESEA Requirements
• Who -- Exceptions
• When
• Assessment Options
• New Rule / New Certificate

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PARAPROFESSIONAL
OLD PSC RULE 505-2-.19 ParaPros and Aides

• 50 Clock Hours, Job-Related Training
• 20 Clock Hours For Renewal
• 30 Clock Hours, Job-Related Training
• No Mention of Eligibility Requirements
• LOCAL Training, Records, License Issuance

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PARAPROFESSIONAL
ESEA Section 1119. QUALIFICATIONS FOR
TEACHERS AND PARAPROFESSIONALS
ParaPros Hired After January 8, 2002 Shall Have

• 2 Years of Study at an Institution of Higher
  Learning (60 semester hrs. or 90 quarter
  hrs., regionally accredited)

• OR
• Obtained an Associates (or Higher) Degree

• Demonstrate, through a formal State or local
• Academic Assessment---

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PARAPROFESSIONAL
ASSESSMENT
Knowledge of, and the ability to assist in
instructing, Reading, Writing and Mathematics or
Knowledge of, and the ability to
assist in instructing, Reading
Readiness, Writing Readiness and
Mathematics Readiness, as appropriate.
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PARAPROFESSIONAL
WHO MUST MEET GUIDELINES

• Title I Schoolwide School, Working w/Instruction
• All Parapros Must Meet Requirements

• Targeted Assisted School, Working w/Instruction
• Parapros Hired w/Title I Funds

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PARAPROFESSIONAL
EXCEPTIONS
ESEA Requirements Do NOT Apply to Parapros with

• Primary duties to act as a Translator

• Duties consisting solely of conducting Parental
• Involvement Activities (Section 1118)

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PARAPROFESSIONAL
WHEN GUIDELINES SHOULD BE MET

• New Parapros Hired AFTER Jan. 8, 2002
• Must Meet Requirements When Hired

• Parapros Hired BEFORE Jan. 8, 2002
• Must Meet Requirements by Jan. 8, 2006

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PARAPROFESSIONAL
GEORGIA PARAPROFESSIONAL ASSESSMENT

• Administered Through PSC

• Partnership of GA State, Valdosta State, Dept of
  Tech Adult Ed, RESAs and School Systems

• Test Dates Jul - Aug - Sep - Nov, 2002
• Test Sites Georgia Technical Colleges, RESAs
  and School Systems
  
• Cost None

( Note The GA Parapro Assessment Has Been
Discontinued.)
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PARAPROFESSIONAL
GA Paraprofessional Assessment Statistics

• Pass records 15,100
• Fail records 2,800
• Total records 17,910

Score Scale 0-100 Passing Score - 75
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PARAPROFESSIONAL
ETS PARAPRO ASSESSMENT

• Administered Through Educational Testing Service
  (ETS)

• ETS and 16 States Participated in Development

• Began January 2003
• Paper/Pencil and Web-Based Tests
  

• Test Sites and Dates
• Paper/Pencil Test - Praxis Regular Test Dates
• Web-based - Set by School Systems ETS
  Administered by and at School Systems

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PARAPROFESSIONAL
ASSESSMENT ETS PARAPRO ASSESSMENT

• Cost

• Test Fee - 40
• Late Registration - 35

• Preparation Materials
• Test At A Glance - no cost - on web
• Study Guide - 25

For More Information - www.ets.org/parapro
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PARAPROFESSIONAL
ETS Praxis Parapro Assessment
Recommended Passing Score
456
Scale - 420 - 480
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PARAPROFESSIONAL
PSC RULE 505-2-.19 Paraprofessionals

• Rule Change - Effective October 15, 2002

• 5 -Year Certificate for ALL Parapros
  Employed by GA Public Schools
• Includes ESEA Hiring Criteria
• Additional training is Local Option

• Web-Based Issuance Paraprofessional
  Automated Certification PAC System
  (Similar to ACRES)

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PARAPROFESSIONAL
505-2-.19 Effective October 15, 2002
Background (a) On January 8, 2002 Federal
legislation, known as the Elementary and
Secondary Education Act (ESEA), established
mandatory federal guidelines for the hiring of
paraprofessionals in specified school settings.
These guidelines are found in Section 1119 of the
federal legislation. Each local school system is
responsible to ensure that all applicable federal
requirements are met.
Web -www.gapsc.com/TeacherCertification/Documents/
Rules.asp
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PARAPROFESSIONAL
505-3-.60 Effective January 1,
2003 (1) Purpose. This rule states
field-specific content standards for approving
programs that prepare paraprofessionals for
grades P-12. (2) Requirements. The program shall
require completion of either a minimum of two
years (60 semester hours) of study at a
PSC-approved accredited institution of higher
education, an associates degree (or higher) from
a PSC-approved accredited institution of higher
education, or successful completion of a
PSC-approved paraprofessional qualification
assessment.
Web -www.gapsc.com/TeacherEducation/Rules/505-3-60
.doc
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PARAPROFESSIONAL
SUMMARY

• ALL Parapros must obtain Georgia Certification

• SOME Parapros must meet Federal Guidelines

• SOME Parapros must meet Federal Guidelines NOW

• SOME Parapros must meet Guidelines by Jan. 8,
  2006

• Praxis Parapro Assessment is Now Available.