Transition from NCLB to ESSA

OSPI and school districts are shifting from No Child Left Behind (NCLB) to the Every Student Succeeds Act (ESSA). ESSA removed the term "highly qualified" for paraeducators, just as it did for teachers. Instead, ESSA directs OSPI to develop minimum state standards.

Professional Educator Standard Board (PESB) - Current Paraeducators Qualifications

Additional Links:

Paraprofessionals (U.S. Department of Education)
Guidance and materials that address commonly asked questions about the paraprofessional qualification requirements of Section 1119 of Title I, Part A.

paraeducator.com
Training, up-to-date information and services for paraeducators and the teachers with whom they work.

National Resource Center for Paraprofessionals (NRCP)
Information and community resources to serve paraeducators, teachers, policymakers and administrators.

Publications

Let's Team Up: A Checklist for Paraeducators, Teachers and Principals, Kent Gerlach, 5th Edition, National Education Association of the United States, 2007
Supervising Paraeducators in Educational Settings: A Team Approach, Anna Lou Pickett and Kent Gerlach, 2nd Edition, Pro-Ed, 2003