Paraprofessional Assessment
Requirements of a Paraprofessional
Special Education:
Paraprofessionals must meet Pennsylvania’s regulatory requirements contained in 22 Pa. Code §14.105 which include the following:
- Have completed at least two years of postsecondary study, or
- Possess an associate degree or higher, or
- Meet a rigorous standard of quality as demonstrated through a State or local assessment; and
- Instructional paraprofessionals, each school year, shall provide evidence of 20 hours of staff development activities related to their assignment.
These requirements remain in effect and districts must continue to comply with Chapter 14 requirements related to paraprofessionals.
Title 1:
Section 1111(g)(2)(M) of the ESEA, as amended by the ESSA, requires each State to have “professional standards for paraprofessionals working in a program supported with funds under [Title I, Part A], including qualifications that were in place on the day before the date of enactment of the [ESSA].” As such, each State must ensure that its LEAs and schools continue to comply with the paraprofessional requirements in place on December 9, 2015, including those requirements under section 1119(c) and (d) of the ESEA, as amended by NCLB, and any State specific requirements that were in place on that date. Specifically, each State and its LEAs must continue to ensure that each paraprofessional who is hired by the LEA and works in a program supported by Title I, Part A funds has the following:
- A secondary school diploma or its recognized equivalent, or
- Has completed at least two years of study at an institution of higher education, or
- Obtained an associate’s or higher degree, or
- Have met a rigorous standard of quality and can demonstrate, through a formal State or local academic assessment, knowledge of, and the ability to assist in instructing, reading, writing, and mathematic
About the Assessment
IU5 administers a Paraprofessional (Teacher’s Aide) Assessment that provides individuals without the proper educational credentials to meet state requirements to be a paraprofessional. There are 2 versions of the Paraprofessional Assessment: Special Education and Title 1. Please contact the perspective district to assure you are scheduled to take the correct test.
If interested in taking the Paraprofessional Assessment, please contact IU5 Human Resources. A study guide will be provided to help prepare for the assessments. Once ready, please call IU5 to schedule the assessment. The cost of the assessment is $50 and is given at the time when the test is taken. Below are the outlines for each assessment.
Special Education:
- 2 hours to take the assessment
- Test has 3 sections
- 10 Standard of Education (59 Questions)
- Foundations of Special Education
- Development and Characteristics of Learners
- Individual Learning Differences
- Instructional Strategies
- Learning Environment and Social Interactions
- Language
- Instructional Planning
- Assessment
- Professional and Ethical Practice
- Collaboration
- Math (5 Questions)
- Reading (5 Questions)
- A minimum of one correct answer from each of the math and reading section, and an overall score of 70% for the successful completion on the entire assessment
Title 1:
- 3 hours to take the assessment
- Test has 2 Sections
- Section 1
- Reading (30 Questions)
- Writing (30 Questions)
- Math (30 Questions)
- Section 2
- Open-Ended Response (Choose 1 of 3 scenarios)
- Need to pass each sub-section of Section 1 with a minimum score of 80% (24/30);
- Section 2 is pass/fail
Scheduling the Asessment
The Paraprofessional Assessment can be scheduled during any day of operation at IU5: Monday–Friday, 8:00 AM to 3:30 PM. Please review the IU5 Calendar for organizational closings.
Northwest Tri-County Intermediate Unit 5
252 Waterford St
Edinboro, Pa 16412
Please park in the upper lot and enter through the main entrance. Please inform the receptionist that you at there for the Paraprofessional Assessment.
Subbing for IU5 as a Paraprofessional
IU5 is looking for energetic, passionate, and student focused individuals to be substitute paraprofessionals in our classroom in Erie, Warren and Crawford Counties. Below are the requirements to sub as a paraprofessional
- High School Diploma or Equivalent
- FBI Background Clearance
- PA State Police Background Clearance
- PA Child Abuse Clearance
- Act 126 Training
- Updated TB Test (within the past 3 months)
