This document offers three articles reporting research and practice on the use of paraeducators to provide support to students with disabilities and their teachers. Emphasis is on research funded by the Department of Education's Office of Special Education Programs. The first article notes the increasing use of paraeducators to provide instructional support for students with disabilities. The second article offers examples of improved paraprofessional practices through mindful planning, supervision, and professional development. Examples illustrate use of a planning tool to address need, assessment of paraeducator roles and activities, paraprofessional training, and training teachers to conduct paraprofessional development sessions. In addition, five organizational resources are highlighted. The final article provides examples of how states are ensuring the preparation of paraeducators. These include: (1) competency determination (Minnesota); (2) paraeducator certification standards (Iowa); (3) a statewide training effort (Hawaii); (4) and an infrastructure to support paraeducator standards (Rhode Island). (DB)