In case this might help someone else, I will share some answers I received from the US Dept of Ed last year.
Question: I found the information on this website that explains “highly qualified” requirements for paraprofessionals. Is a 1: 1personal aide/ assistant/ LRE aide a paraprofessional and do they have to meet the same standards? But because they do not call her a “paraprofessional” is that was a way to skirt the requirement? Thank you for your help.
Response: The qualification requirements for paraprofessionals apply to any teachers assistant working in a program supported by Title I funds who has instructionally related duties. This includes paraprofessionals working in special education programs if they have instructional duties. However, if the aid provides purely personal care assistance, they do not have to meet the requirements for postsecondary education. They do, however, have to have a high school degree.
For further information on these requirements, please see the Non-Regulatory Guidance on Title I Paraprofessionals, posted on http://www.floridaschoolchoice.org/Information/contact_us.asp?prgmtype=2
Question: Also, I note that you said “includes paraprofessionals working in special education programs”. Does it include paraprofessionals working in a general education environment as 1:1 aide?
Response: The qualification requirements for paraprofessionals apply to any teachers assistant working in a program supported by Title I funds who has instructionally related duties. This includes paraprofessionals working in special education programs if they have instructional duties. However, if the aid provides purely personal care assistance, they do not have to meet the requirements for postsecondary education. They do, however, have to have a high school degree.
For further information on these requirements, please see the Non-Regulatory Guidance on Title I Paraprofessionals, posted on http://www.ed.gov/policy/elsec/guid/paraguidance.doc
The issue of a one-to-one aid comes down to the function of the aid. If the aid provides purely personal care duties, then he or she is not considered a paraprofessional for these purposes, and does not have to meet the qualifications. However, if the aid helps the teacher in the instruction of the student, or assists the student in carrying out the assigned tasks, then he or she is performing instructional duties, is a paraprofessional, and would have to meet the criteria, if working in a program supported by Title I funds.
Question: Thank you again for your quick response. One FINAL question, I am a bit confused when you say “working in a program supported by Title I funds”. The entire building is a Title I school. Does that mean her regualr ed classroom is considered a Title I program?
Response: There are two types of TitleI programs, schoolwide and targetted. Any paraprofessional working in a school with a schoolwide program must meet these requirements. However, if the school only has a targetted assistance program (in which Title I funds are used only for eligible students), then only paraprofessionals paid with Title I funds are subject to the requirements. From you description, it sounds like the school in question has a schoolwide program and that all paraprofessionals would have to meet the criteria.
Once again, thank you for contacting the U.S. Department of Education. If we can be of further assistance, please do not hesitate to write us again, or call (800) USA-LEARN between the hours of 9-5:00 Eastern Time.
Additional comments from me about understanding Title 1:
Title 1 has to do with the proportion of students who are “disadvanted”. Mostly this is measured by free/reduced lunches. Even if all schools in a district are not Title 1, the district may adopt the language of Title 1 for consistency. A school can be Title 1 one year and not the next. Not only can it vary school to school within a district, but in some schools certain grades may be Title 1 and others are not. They call us a “building wide Title 1 School”.
NCLB is different for Title 1 schools, but all schools are covered by NCLB. Just because your school is not Title 1, does not mean they do not accept Title 1 funds, they’d accept them, they’re just not eligible.
