SOUTH CAROLINA PARA PRO TEST
PREPARATION PROJECT BACKGROUND
NO CHILD LEFT BEHIND LEGISLATION
Signed into law- January, 2002
The No Child Left Behind legislation was enacted as part of the effort to increase accountability in public education. The legislation has broad impact in many areas of school operation; however, the Para Pro project aims only at the components of the law that specifically address the qualifications for teaching assistants (referred to in the legislation as “Paraprofessionals”.
The duties and responsibilities of the paraprofessional (teaching assistant) have dramatically changed over the last few years. Previously, the paraprofessional duties and responsibilities consisted of collecting lunch money, mimeographing skill sheets, grading papers, assisting on field trips, monitoring study halls, and assisting in the bus line before and after school. However, the demand to improve student achievement has significantly impacted the role of the paraprofessional in the 21st century. This individual must now be intimately involved with the instructional process and serve as an academic tutor to augment instruction. Therefore, this position must be able to demonstrate competency in their own repertoire of academic skills in the areas of mathematics, reading and writing to be successful in a classroom environment.
According to the No Child Left Behind Act, an instructional Title I paraprofessional must meet one of three requirements to be employed. The paraprofessional must either obtain an associates degree or higher; complete two years of coursework at an institution of higher education; or meet a rigorous standard of quality and demonstrate, through a formal state or local academic assessment,
a. Knowledge of, and the ability to assist in instructing, reading, writing and mathematics; or
b. Knowledge of and the ability to assist in instructing, reading readiness, writing readiness, or mathematics readiness as appropriate.
To be employed in a Title I school or a Title I targeted assistance program after January 8, 2002, paraprofessionals must meet one of these requirements. Furthermore, all Title I instructional paraprofessionals employed before January 8, 2002, must meet one of these requirements by January 8, 2006.
Currently, there are approximately 4,000 paraprofessionals who could be affected by this law. Due to the time required to earn an associate's degree and the cost associated with post-secondary degrees, a large number of paraprofessionals will elect to take the Official test approved by the South Carolina State Board of Education. To effectively accommodate this option, two tests have been approved for a two-year pilot for this option.
· ParaPro Assessment developed by Educational Testing Service (ETS) is two-thirds content specific and one-third application. If the instructional paraprofessional chooses to take this test and obtains a qualifying score, he or she has met the requirements of NCLB. School districts may also apply to offer the test online to current paraprofessionals and candidates for paraprofessional positions in their school district. The cost of the ETS ParaPro test is $40.00.
· WorkKeys developed by ACT tests the paraprofessional in the areas of mathematics, reading and writing. This test was developed prior to the passage of the NCLB Act and does not contain an application component. If the paraprofessional chooses to take this test, he or she must also demonstrate that he/she can apply these skills in a classroom setting through professional development or an evaluation. The Office of Adult Education will conduct a validation study for WorkKeys in January 2003. The cost of the WorkKeys test may vary from site to site but the general cost will be approximately $25.00
The State Department Office of Adult Education will provide local school districts, adult education directors and teachers training and technical assistance that will enable them to offer skill upgrade classes to ready paraprofessionals to be successful on the either tests. The program will also assist paraprofessionals in matriculating into the technical college system or an institution of higher education. The Paraprofessional Test Preparation Program consists of the following steps:
· Administration of a pre-test (TABE)-all teaching assistants will be administered a basic skills (math, reading & writing) test that will identify math and/or reading deficiencies
· An academic individual basic skill profile will be developed to assist in targeting appropriate instruction in each of the three areas.
· Paraprofessional Test Preparation classes offered at times convenient to paraprofessionals-afternoon, early evening, Saturdays or school district staff development days
· Administration of ParaPro and WorkKeys tests to those who are deemed test ready
· Coordinating the technical college counselors to provide all classes information regarding the technical college system academic programs offered and financial aid available.
The pilot phase of the testing program for paraprofessionals will occur during the 2002-03 and 2003-04 school years. At the end of that time period, the State Department of Education will study the results of the pilot, survey school districts and paraprofessionals, discuss the effectiveness of the training and assistance with the Adult Education personnel, and recommend to the State Board of Education whether to adopt one test or to continue to use both tests.
January 8, 2002
The NCLB Act went into effect. No
paraprofessional could be hired
after this date who did not meet the requirements
specified in the
law.
Summer
2002
Division of Teacher Quality staff and State Director of Adult
Education met with Technical College representatives to determine
an action plan for paraprofessionals to meet the requirements of the
law.
December
2002
Adult education personnel and the Division of Teacher Quality
personnel met with the NCLB contacts in all school districts in four
regional meetings to explain the options currently
available for
paraprofessionals and to answer their questions.
January
6-10, 2003 Instructors
participating in the Test Preparation Program receive
training in test administration and use of curriculum materials.
January 8, 2006 All Title I paraprofessionals must meet requirements.