call for increased academic requirements for them?
While paraprofessionals or teachers’ aides are valuable assets to many learning communities, they are not qualified to fill the role of teachers–a role which, unfortunately, many have been called upon to fill, especially in schools that are under-staffed. No Child Left Behind is clear that teachers’ aides may provide instructional support services only under the direct supervision of a teacher. In addition, the law allows teachers’ aides to facilitate instruction only if they have met certain academic requirements: They must have at least an associate’s degree or two years of college, or they must meet a rigorous standard of quality through a formal state or local assessment. If a paraprofessional’s role does not involve facilitating instruction–such as serving as a hall monitor–that person does not have to meet the same academic requirements. But, in order to provide instructional support services, an aide or paraprofessional must have the academic background required by No Child L
