THE ROLE OF PSRPS IN THE COMMON CORE STATE STANDARDS PROCESS

WHEREAS, the American Federation of Teachers continues to support higher common standards and expectations for all students as part of a comprehensive standards-based system; and

WHEREAS, although most states have adopted the Common Core State Standards (CCSS), there is wide variation in the implementation of the standards at the state and local level; and

WHEREAS, a change in the highly focused and deeper nature of the CCSS will necessitate changes in instruction so that teachers and students engage in deeper content and devote more time to subject mastery, resulting in more effective teaching and learning; and

WHEREAS, beginning in 2014, technology will be the major component in common core–based assessment, and some teaching of students, which will be done by current and developing technological tools that add a new dimension to assessment and teaching, and that require new levels of technological expertise for teachers, paraprofessionals and school-related personnel; and

WHEREAS, paraprofessionals and school-related personnel (PSRPs) provide services and support to students, teachers and schools to help them to achieve their academic goals, particularly paraprofessionals whose primary role in the classroom is to support student learning and to assist the teacher in carrying out their instructional plans, which are now governed by the CCSS; and

WHEREAS, the CCSS necessitate in-service training and professional development for teachers; likewise, the CCSS necessitate the same for PSRPs, particularly those in computer labs, so that they are able to responsibly provide assistance to students and teachers in the implementation and carrying out of the CCSS:

RESOLVED, that the American Federation of Teachers will assist state and local affiliates in advocating for the necessary training and professional development needed by PSRPs to prepare and enable them to responsibly fulfill their roles and responsibilities pertaining to the Common Core State Standards; and

RESOLVED, that the AFT will support state and local affiliates in their efforts to recognize and include paraprofessionals and school support staff as stakeholders and partners in the CCSS process; and

RESOLVED, that the AFT will provide technical support to state and local affiliates to help in their efforts to make PSRPs full partners in the CCSS process.