Overview

Paraeducators seeking guidance regarding school schedule and activities while school districts are closed due to the coronavirus (COVID-19), should contact their central office in the local school district.

The following is the CT State Department of Education’s definition of a paraeducator:

A paraeducator is an employee who assists teachers and/or other professional educators or therapists in the delivery of instructional and related services to students. The paraeducator works under the direct supervision of the teacher or other certified or licensed professional. The ultimate responsibility for the design, implementation and evaluation of instructional programs, including assessment of student progress, is a collaborative effort of certified and licensed staff.

Requirements for CT Paraeducators

• CT does not require a certificate, permit or authorization to be employed as Paraeducator.
• The Every Student Succeeds Act (ESSA) Implications for Paraeducators requires that States maintain "entry level" requirements from No Child Left Behind (NCLB) for Paraeducators employed in a school or district that receives Title I funds:
  • Earned a secondary school diploma, or its equivalent.
  • Must have completed 2 years of study at an institution of higher education, OR Earned an Associate’s Degree (or higher), OR Achieve at least a score of 457 on the ETS ParaPro Assessment to:
    Demonstrate knowledge of, and the ability to assist in instructing in:
    • Reading, writing, and mathematics;
    • Reading readiness, writing readiness, and mathematics readiness
• Roles of Paraeducators can vary based on grade level, content area, and student needs. Schools and districts may require additional criteria for Paraeducators based on the varied role(s) that the Paraeducator would fill.