"More paras are climbing the career ladder." June 5, 2005. NYSUT Guide to K-12 Education Standards 2005-2006. New York State United Teachers.


Guide to State and Federal Standards for Academic Year 2005-2006 An overview of where New York State stands in the move to higher standards and more rigorous tests. HOME \| STANDARDS \| Your Students \| Your Credentials \| Sample Tests \| Resources \| News Archive
Your Students More paras are climbing the career ladder Posted: June 5, 2005 Pictured: Oupekha Keomuongchanh, a member of the Rochester Association of Paraprofessionals, works with students in city high schools. As a result of guidance offered by State Ed in the implementation of No Child Left Behind, if you're providing instructional support services, you must be certified as a teaching assistant - regardless of how your school district describes your position. That guidance, coupled with new state certification regulations, has raised the stakes for anyone providing instructional support services. Under the new state regulations, anyone applying for certification as a teaching assistant must have a high school diploma, pass the state's Assessment of Teaching Assistant Skills and complete a series of requirements leading to a continuously valid certificate. The various steps to that goal are: Level I - This entry-level credential is similar to the temporary certificate issued to teaching assistants under the previous regulations. It is valid for one year, but can be renewed. Level II - This certificate is valid for two years for candidates who have obtained six semester hours of collegiate study and completed one year of teaching assistant experience. Level III - All must eventually obtain this certificate,which requires 18 hours of college courses and at least one year's experience. The certificate remains continuously valid as long as you complete 75 hours of professional development every five years. Pre-professional - For those seeking to move on and obtain an initial teaching certificate, this level requires matriculation in a teacher prep program in addition to the Level III prerequisites. On the federal front, NCLB not only mandates that anyone providing instructional support services in Title I schools possess a high school diploma, it requires a diploma even of those who work primarily as translators or in parent involvement activities in those schools.	ELT offers SRPs undergrad courses NYSUT's Education and Learning Trust is collaborating with colleges across the state to offer undergraduate courses for paraprofessionals. Courses are designed for teaching assistants seeking state certification and paraprofessionals with instructional duties in Title I programs. ELT will partner with Rockland Community College and the Rockland Teacher Center Institute to offer courses for teaching assistants beginning this summer. ELT is currently working with Empire State College and the UFT Teacher Center to offer a sequence of courses for paras that can be transferred to a two- or four-year degree program through ESC. Plans are also under way to offer courses to NYSUT members on Long Island through Adelphi College. For information on offerings in your area, log on to www.nysut.org/etp/. The Education and Learning Trust also offers test-prep programs and materials for candidates taking the Assessment of Teaching Assistant Skills. If the school district approves the ATAS as its local assessment, the test may be used to meet NCLB requirements for paraprofessionals in Title I schools. To schedule the five- to six-hour test-prep workshop, contact ELT at (800) 528-6208.
The Guide to State and Federal Standards for Academic Year 2005-2006 was developed by New York Teacher in conjunction with the union's Division of Research and Educational Services. Articles are by John Strachan. Updated June 2005. For updates, read New York Teacher, or go to the Web site at www.nysut.org. Single copies are available while supplies last. Bulk order requests should be made through local union presidents. Write NYSUT Publications, 800 Troy-Schenectady Road, Latham, N.Y. 12110-2455; e-mail jmalec@nysutmail.org; or call (800) 342-9810, ext. 6260. Ask for item No. 204/05 from the Publications Department. The complete guide is also available for download at nysut.org/standards. NYSUT, the largest union in New York State, represents more than 525,000 classroom teachers and other school employees and retirees; academic and professional faculty at the state's community colleges, State University of New York and City University of New York; and other education and health professionals. NYSUT is affiliated with the American Federation of Teachers, AFL-CIO. NYSUT.org. Copyright New York State United Teachers. 800 Troy-Schenectady Road, Latham, New York, 12110-2455. 518.213.6000.