ASA ParaPro NCLB Certification Program

Training that takes the worry off of your district.

Help your ParaPros attain NCLB certification:

·EASILY

·EFFICIENTLY

·COST-EFFECTIVELY

ASA training that helps eliminate the fear associated with taking the certification test.

Contact Information:

The Program:

District Leadership

Classified Leadership

ParaPro Training

Monitoring

Individual Plans

Costs

Contact:

Steve Franko

330.467.0496

216.256.7839 (mobile)

sfranko848@yahoo.com

ASA Offers State Approved Training and Certification

Tom Horne
Superintendent of
Public Instruction                         MEMORANDUM

To:     District Superintendents
               
From:   Kathleen Wiebke, Deputy Associate Superintendent for Highly Qualified Professionals     

Date:   Friday, November 07, 2003

Subject:        NCLB 04-05:  Arizona’s Highly Qualified ParaProfessionals Update
                    No Child Left Behind Act (NCLB) 2001

v  Earlier we shared with you that the Arizona Department of Education (ADE) had recognized the ParaPro Test (ETS) and WorkKeys Proficiency Certificate for Teacher Assistants (ACT) as options for Arizona’s Title I paraprofessionals to meet the requirements of NCLB.  We would like to add the option of MASTER Teachers’s ParaEducator Learning Network.  The ParaEducator Learning Network is developed and maintained by The MASTER Teacher.  An annual subscription to this program includes:

o Two Title I paraeducator assessments that meet NCLB requirements and recognized by the Arizona Department of Education.

o 13 reading, writing, and math courses that help prepare the Title I paraeducator for the required assessments.

o 37 additional courses that help prepare all paraeducators for the rigors of their day-to-day roles and responsibilities in the classroom.

To preview The ParaEducator Learning Network, visit the web site at www.paraeducator.net. The Arizona School Administrators Association (ASA) has developed a training program for paraprofessionals who are interested in pursuing the training provided by the ParaEducator Learning Network.  If you would like to take advantage of this opportunity contact Steve Franko at sfranko848@yahoo.com or at 330.467.0496.

State Approved ASA ParaPro Certification Program

to Meet NCLB “Highly Qualified” Requirement and Provide excellent professional Development for Paraprofessionals Working with Special Needs Children.

¨               District Leadership Team

                    We will assist the district leadership team to become familiar with the NCLB requirements as well as work with the team to discuss any labor issues which may impact the certification process. We will help the team develop the district plan to achieve certification for the ParaPros.

¨               Classified Leadership

                    We will assist the Superintendent/designee in providing appropriate information about NCLB requirements and the program to the classified leadership.

¨               ParaPro Training

                    We will provide in-depth training for the ParaPros on the NCLB requirements and on the Master Teacher Software which is designed to help ParaPros prepare for and pass the Arizona Department of Education approved certification test (a part of Master Teacher Software). This training requires approximately three hours in a computer lab setting. Each ParaPro will have the opportunity to take a practice test and receive feedback from this practice test. This session is designed to help each ParaPro feel at ease about the testing program. We will also discuss the Individual ParaPro Action Plan (IPAP) at this meeting.

¨               Monitoring

                    We will monitor the on-line work of each ParaPro as he/she completes the thirteen courses designed to help the ParaPro successfully pass the certification test. We will communicate with each ParaPro via email and/or telephone as needed.

¨               Development of Individual ParaPro Action Plan

                    We will meet with ParaPros to administer the certification assessment. Our experience has been that 100% of the ParaPros who successfully completed the thirteen courses in the software passed the test. ParaPros who pass the certification test on the first attempt will receive a certification of completion. We will meet with any ParaPro who did not pass the certification test on the first attempt to review his/her progress to date and develop an Individual ParaPro Action Plan (IPAP) to achieve the goal of becoming certified. The final IPAPs will be shared with the Superintendent/designee.

Training and testing for NCLB take place on-site in your district. Paraprofessionals have access to the software via any internet connection for one full year.  Many districts use the software for professional development training sessions for those working with special needs children.

Cost for your district would be:

MASTER Teacher software license (see table below)

   Plus: $3,000 training and testing fee (training up to 30 ParaPros –  

                 additional groups of 30 are $1,500 per additional group)

   Plus: Expenses (copying costs, mileage etc.)

ASA developed and offers this program to enable districts to meet NCLB requirements.

See the next pages for a description of the software and a complete listing of the courses included.