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Building a Community of Pennsylvania Paraprofessionals
Friday, May 13, 2011National Resource Center
for Paraprofessionals ConferenceHarrisburg, PA
Session 30: 10:11:30Presenter: Dr. Wendy S. Farone
PaTTAN’s Mission
The mission of the Pennsylvania Training and
Technical Assistance Network (PaTTAN) is to support the
efforts and initiatives of the Bureau of Special Education, and to build the capacity of
local educational agencies to serve students who receive special education services.
PDE’s Commitment to Least Restrictive Environment (LRE)
Our goal for each child is to ensure Individualized
Education Program (IEP) teams begin with the general
education setting with the use of Supplementary Aids and
Services before considering a more restrictive
environment.
Agenda
• History of PA’s Paraeducator Training Initiative
Paraprofessional!
• Credential of Competency
• Implementation of Training Plan– Initial Efforts–Current Focus
History - Initial Activities
• Created focus group
• Defined the issues
• Developed action plan
History
According to IDEA ‘97, a “state may allow paraeducators and assistants who are appropriately trained and supervised in accordance with state law, regulations, or written policy in meeting the requirements…to be used to assist in the provision of special education and related services to children with disabilities…”.
History
The Bureau of Special Education’s intention was to assure that the paraprofessionals providing assistance to students with disabilities in PA’s classrooms are appropriately trained and competent.
History - Defining the Issues
Paraeducators are an integral part of the educational team
Receive little or no professional development
Changing role from clerical/routine to instructional assignments
Increasing number of paraeducators employed
Approximate number of paraeducators employed by LEAs in PA
2001-2002 11,500 2007-2008 19,200
Survey Says! History – Goals and Activities
Goal One Identify current
training efforts in Pennsylvania for paraeducators working in special education.
Activity PDE found that
training for paraeducators is sporadic, non-systemic, and dependent on local awareness
History - Goals and Activities
Goal Two Identify the
training needs of paraeducators providing special education and related services in Pennsylvania.
ActivitiesTraining needs identified: Specific disabilities Data collection/observation Confidentiality/legal issues Positive behavior support
and classroom management
Dealing with children in crisis situations – medical/safety issues
Appropriate child/paraeducator relationships
Professionalism
History – Goals and Activities
Goal Three Identify
competencies for paraeducators providing special education and related services in Pennsylvania.
Activities Developed a set of
knowledge and skills for paraeducators based on the CEC standards as well as other national resources
Attended the NRCP Conference to get ideas!
History – Goals and Activities
Goal Four Develop a system
of recognition for paraeducators demonstrating acquired competencies in the area of special education and related services.
Activities PDE to establish a
voluntary Pennsylvania Credential of Competency for Special Education Paraeducators
PDE began issuing Credentials -November 2003
History - PaTTAN Workgroup Formed
Paraprofessional Workgroup meets via Go To Meeting monthly and Face-to-Face yearly.
Use of a perpetual agenda keeps important topics and progress of projects as a focus
Includes Educational Consultants from behavior, reading, early childhood, transition,
Added a parent consultant to our team!
Training Plan – Initial Efforts
• August 2003 initial full-day training for Paraeducators
• Half-day for supervisors• After-school videoconferences• Weekend seminar 2005, 2006, 2007
Training Plan- Current Focus
Changes in Laws and regulations IDEA 2004 and regulations of 2006
required special education paraprofessionals to meet state requirements.
PA State Board of Education included standards for special education paraprofessionals in state regulations effective July 1, 2008.
Paraprofessional Initiative
• Disseminate state regulation requirement for paraprofessional – Completed.
• Develop an online accessible professional development series linked to the Chapter 14 standards – Completed.
• Collaborate with IUs and IHEs to align curriculum and professional development to state standards – Continuous Improvement
Paraprofessional Credential of Competency• PA State Regulations state:Instructional paraprofessionals shall
meet one of the following qualifications effective July 1, 2010:
(i) Have completed at least 2 years of postsecondary study (approx. 48 credits) OR
(ii)Possess an associate degree or higher OR
(iii)Meet a rigorous standard of quality as demonstrated through a State or local assessment.
Credential of Competencyhttp://pattan.framewelder.com/
Training Plan- Current Focus
• After-school VC series with diverse topics including Low tech Tools for Engaging Learners; Supporting Students Who Have Tourette’s Syndrome; Overview of Seizure Disorders, Strategies for Diffusing Potential Behavior Problems.
• Online courses available and aligned to the ten Competency Standards
• Summer series • Assist paraprofessionals in obtaining
20 hours of on-going professional development
Training Plan-Current Focus
• On-going webinars/afterschool videoconferences
• Archive presentations for easy access
• Creation of a publication series specifically for paraprofessionals
• IHE Grants to support Paraprofessional training-Assoc. Degree/Credential
• Hosting the NRCP Conference!
Paraprofessional Initiative: Efforts and Effects
• Provided 41 hours of PD to 31,637 participants on skill and knowledge assessed by the Credential of Competency
• 2010-2011 training targeted to behavior topics
• Variety of training formats– VC, webinar, streaming media, online
modules• 10 modules to meet Competency
standards available on-line– 22,831 Certificates of Attendance have
been issued to 16,109 paraprofessionals
Paraprofessional Initiative: Efforts and Effects
To date, over 11,533 Credentials of Competency have been issued
Provided technical assistance to LEAs as they prepared to meet state qualifications standards by July 1, 2010
Paraprofessional Initiative
11/03 - 3/07 4/07 - 3/08 4/08 - 3/09 4/09 - 2/8/10
0
1000
2000
3000
4000
5000
6000
7000
2048
2726
3550
6376
Total # of Credentials IssuedCredentials Issued
11/03 - 3/07 2048
4/07 - 3/08 678 4/08 - 3/09 824 4/09 - 2/8/10 2826
Next Steps
Partner with community colleges to align courses with state requirements (e.g. IHE Grants 2011)
Partner with LEAs to understand competencies and offer online courses to paraprofessionals
Offer sessions for high-need topics, e.g., Autism, Reading Instruction, Behavior, Job-Coaching
All paraprofessionals meet requirements and have access to meaningful professional development.
Paraprofessional Initiative: Next Steps
• Continue to provide after school and summer professional development activities to meet current state requirements.
• Disseminate paraprofessional folders to organize professional development activities.
• Partner with IHEs to align curriculum and professional development to meet state standards.
• Partner with the NRCP to host the 2011 National Conference for Paraprofessionals
Contact Information www.pattan.net
Dr. Wendy Faronewfarone@pattan.net1-412-826-2336 x6846
Commonwealth of PennsylvaniaTom Corbett, Governor
Pennsylvania Department of EducationRonald J. Tomalis, Secretary
Dr. Carolyn Dumaresq, Deputy SecretaryOffice for Elementary and Secondary
Education
John J. Tommasini, DirectorBureau of Special Education
Patricia Hozella, Assistant DirectorBureau of Special Education