Alhambra USD |  1000 |  BP  4222  Personnel

Teacher Aides/Paraprofessionals   

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The Governing Board favors the use of paraprofessionals and considers them to be members of a professional team dedicated to the best interests of students. By relieving teachers of duties that do not require professional training, noncertificated persons allow teachers to dedicate their skills, knowledge and efforts primarily to teaching. Para-professionals also can help teachers to provide individualized student instruction and an enriched educational program.

The district shall employ paraprofessionals in those classes where they will provide the greatest benefit to students, taking into consideration such factors as large class size, student age group and teacher workload.

The Superintendent or designee shall ensure that all paraprofessionals have appropriate training and supervision.

(cf. 4212 - Appointment and Conditions of Employment)

(cf. 5142 - Safety)

Paraprofessionals are expected to be courteous, discrete, cooperative and dependable, to employ high ethical standards as they work with students, and to respect school rules, district policies and administrative regulations.

(cf. 1240 - Volunteer Assistance)

The Board recognizes the need for qualified teaching staff and encourages paraprofessionals to seek opportunities leading to a teaching credential. The district shall support these efforts to the extent possible, particularly as they relate to obtaining bilingual or special education credentials.

(cf. 4112.21 - District Interns)

After March 1, 1982, no person shall be initially assigned to assist in instruction as an instructional aide or be initially assigned to assist in instruction for work as an aide for instructional purposes unless that person has passed the basic reading, writing and mathematics skills proficiencies required for graduation from high school in this district (or in high school district which includes the greatest part of this elementary district). Exceptions to this rule are possible, but only as permitted by Education Code 45344.5 or 45361.5

Legal Reference:

EDUCATION CODE

45330 Paraprofessionals

45340-45349 Instruction aides, especially

45344 Duties and qualifications

45344.5 Required passing of basic skills proficiency examination by instructional aides

45347 Instructional aides as classified employees

45350-45354 Teacher assistants

45360-45367 Teacher aides, especially

45361.5 Required passing of basic skills proficiency examination by teacher aides

69619-69619.3¬?¬?California school paraprofessional teacher training program

Management Resources:

U.S. DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION PUBLICATIONS

Title I Paraprofessionals, Non-Regulatory Guidance, March 1, 2004

Policy ALHAMBRA UNIFIED SCHOOL DISTRICT

adopted: September 9, 1997 Alhambra, California