DOCUMENTING THE EFFECTIVENESS OF APPROPRIATE TRAINING AND UTILIZATION OF CLASSROOM PARAPROFESSIONAL

WHEREAS, classroom instructional paraprofessionals have served a vital function as partners in the classroom for more than 30 years by supporting the instructional process and helping students grow; and

Whereas, the effect of the presence of properly trained and appropriately utilized classroom instructional paraprofessionals on student achievement is, at best, only a secondary or tertiary factor in research studies on student achievement; and

Whereas, the continued presence and future stability of this profession may well rest on our capacity for ensuring that standards are set for the training and employment of classroom instructional paraprofessionals; and

Whereas, our ability to pursue standards at the state and local level will be greatly assisted by a quantified correlation between appropriate training and utilization of classroom paraprofessionals and increased student achievement:

RESOLVED, that the AFT gather research on the effect of properly trained and appropriately utilized classroom instructional paraprofessionals on increased student achievement and disseminate that information to affiliates for use in their efforts to establish standards for the employment and training of classroom instructional paraprofessionals.