The increasing importance of the paraprofessional as part of an education team warrants carefully contructed certification programs. This article (1) recounts the history of paraprofessionals; (2) provides four arguments in favor of certification; (3) describes one existing program; (4) suggests characteristics of effective programs; and (5) warns…

Article gives three reports on how paraprofessionals can and do help to make classroom instruction better. (Author)

The reported project attempted to determine if formal inservice training improves the performance of paraprofessional aides in the classroom. Ninety-two teachers at four elementary schools examined the administrative, clerical, supervisory, instructional, and housekeeping duties most frequently performed by paraprofessionals and rated them on the…

This document discusses various aspects of the training and utilization of "teacher aides" (used here to refer to the paraprofessional, lay assistant, nonprofessional, teacher helper, assistant teacher, or auxiliary personnel whose work may include "all those functions the non-certificated person might perform in the educational…

The Conflict Resolution Component of the Minneapolis Schools' 1973-74 Emergency School Aid Act Project provided 20 paraprofessional Desegregation Aides for nine desegregating public schools (8 junior highs, 1 high school). The Component also funded a Coordinator of Desegregation Aides and a program of pre- and in-service training to help Aides…

This study was intended to fill the gap in available data on paraprofessional funding and programming in the public school systems by focusing on the training and utilization of paraprofessionals in school years 1971-72 and 1972-73 in the 1,800 public school systems around the nation which enroll 5,000 pupils or more. A total of 1,148 school…

The fourth in a series of federally supported modules for training paraprofessional school personnel who work with students with disabilities, this module presents principles and techniques of behavior management. Both a facilitator's edition and a student's edition are provided. Chapter 1 introduces the concept of behavior and the role of the…

This report provides an analysis of the activities being conducted by 25 federally-funded projects across the country that focus on issues related to paraeducators of students with disabilities. A definition of paraprofessionals/paraeducators is offered with a discussion of their increasing role in the education of students with disabilities in…

The third in a series of federally supported modules for training paraprofessional school personnel who work with students with disabilities, this module focuses on training self-advocacy skills, facilitating friendships, and developing socialization skills for individuals with disabilities. Both a facilitator's edition and a student's edition are…

The fifth in a series of federally supported modules for training paraprofessional school personnel who work with students with disabilities, this module focuses on early childhood education needs of children with disabilities. Both a facilitator's edition and a student's edition are provided. Chapter 1 presents material on fundamentals and legal…

The sixth in a series of federally supported modules for training paraprofessional school personnel who work with students with disabilities, this module presents information on working with individuals who are medically fragile or have physical disabilities. Both a facilitator's edition and a student's edition are provided. Chapter 1 examines the…