Jerome Joint School District No. 261

PERSONNEL 5710

Paraprofessionals, Teachers' Aides and Paraeducators

Paraprofessionals, teacher’s aides and paraeducators, as defined in the appropriate job descriptions, are under the

supervision of a principal and a teacher to whom the principal may have delegated responsibility for close

direction. The nature of the work accomplished by paraprofessionals will encompass a variety of tasks that may be

inclusive of “limited instructional duties.”

Under federal law, a paraprofessional, also known as a “paraeducator,” an “education assistant” or an

“instructional assistant,” is defined as an individual who is employed in a preschool, elementary school, or

secondary school under the supervision of a certificated or licensed teacher, and includes persons employed in

language instruction educational programs, special education programs, and migrant education programs.

Paraeducator’s are employed by the District mainly to assist the teacher. A paraeducator is an extension of the

teacher, who legally has the direct control and supervision of the classroom or playground and responsibility for

control and the welfare of the students.

In compliance with applicable legal requirements, the Board shall require all paraeducators with instructional

duties that are newly hired in a Title I school-wide program to have a high school diploma or general equivalency

diploma (GED) and:

1. Demonstrate through a state approved academic assessment knowledge of and the ability to assist in

instructing or preparing students to be instructed as applicable to the academic areas they are providing support in; or

2. Have completed at least two (2) years of study at an accredited postsecondary educational institution,; or

3. Obtained an associate degree or higher level degree;

It is the responsibility of each principal and teacher to provide adequate training for a paraprofessionals. This

training should take into account the unique situations in which a paraprofessionals works and should be designed

to cover the general contingencies that might be expected to pertain to that situation. During the first thirty (30)

days of employment, the supervising teacher or administrator shall continue to assess the skills and ability of the

paraprofessionals to assist in reading, writing, and mathematics instruction.

The Superintendent shall develop and implement procedures for an annual evaluation of teachers’ aides and para-

educators. Evaluation results shall be a factor in future employment decisions.

Cross Reference: Policy 2010 District Plan

Legal Reference: 20 USC § 6312 Local Agency Plans, as amended by ESSA of 2015

20 USC § 6314 School Wide Programs, as amended by ESSA of 2015

20 USC §§ 7011, 7801 Definitions, as amended by ESSA of 2015

Policy History:

Adopted on: 03/25/2008

Revised on: 11/28/2017

Revised on: 08/28/2018