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There's no more important job in the world than helping children learn. If you assist teachers in helping students to learn, you are a key part of the educational team.

Both the state and federal governments have rules about the qualifications you must have. These rules are complicated and can seem overwhelming. That's where NYSUT comes in. Your statewide union - New York State United Teachers - is here to help with information about state and federal rules that affect you. NYSUT also is working hard on your behalf to untangle red tape and to convince the powers-that-be that job requirements should be clear and reasonable.

Why this information is important

You need to know how these rules affect you because in a worst-case scenario, if you can't meet the requirements, a school district could change your duties or your job could be threatened.

The information in this guide is just a starting place. Some rules apply to people who have been on the job a long time, while other rules apply only to newer hires. Please read this guide all the way through to make sure you know all about state and federal rules that could affect your job. For specific questions about your own situation, it is best to talk with your representatives of your local union.

If you work in New York City, the United Federation of Teachers is your best source for information, because job descriptions there are unique. For example, New York City uses the word "paraprofessional" when referring to people who would be called teaching assistants in other parts of the state. So if you work in New York City schools, rely on the UFT for specific expertise on job requirements.

Some terms

Some people use the term "paraprofessional" loosely to describe many different jobs in a school district. The state and federal rules that we are talking about in this guide apply only to paraprofessionals in instructional support services. That generally means people who do the jobs of teaching assistants.

But - and this is a big BUT - you might not have the title of "teaching assistant," and yet these rules could still apply to you. The State Education Department says that what matters isn't your title, it's your job duties. If you provide "instructional support," you are working as a teaching assistant, no matter what your title says. And in that case, state and federal requirements typically apply. If you are performing the duties of a teaching assistant, your district should be initiating an application for you to be state-certified.

If you are performing the duties of a teacher aide, state certification requirements do not apply to you. Teacher aides who work in Title I programs or schools are required under federal rules to have a high school diploma.

Determining if you're affected

So how do you know if you're doing the work of a teaching assistant or a teacher aide?

Here are some of the duties New York state says are performed by teacher aides:

• You prepare scripts for recording purposes;
• You assist in the monitoring and technical operation of language or computer labs;
• You assist in physical care tasks and health-related activities;
• You assist students with behavior management needs;
• You assist in the technical preparation and production of media programs;
• You assist in proctoring and other tasks related to administering exams;
• You assist in correcting tests, recording grades, maintaining files and preparing statistical reports.

If you are performing the duties of a teacher's aide, then you are not required to earn state certification. You are not required to meet federal requirements.

By contrast, here are some examples of the duties New York state says are performed by teaching assistants:<

• You provide one-on-one tutoring for a student when the student isn't being taught by a teacher;
• You work with individual students or groups on special instructional projects;
• You provide the teacher with information about students which will help the teacher develop appropriate learning and behavioral experiences;
• You help students use available resources and help develop instructional materials;
• You assist in related instructional work.

If this list reflects what you do on the job, then you are performing the duties of a teaching assistant. State requirements apply to you and your district should be initiating an application for you to be state certified. (And if you do this work in a Title I program or school, federal rules apply to you, too. We'll explain those later on.)

NEXT: What New York State requires

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