THE ACUTE SHORTAGE OF PROFESSIONALS TO MEET EXPANDING SCHOOL NEEDS IS ONE OF A NUMBER OF FACTORS THAT HAVE CONTRIBUTED TO GREATLY INCREASING USE OF AUXILLIARY SCHOOL PERSONNEL. THEIR RESPONSIBILITIES VARY WITH THE SCHOOL'S NEEDS AND THE SKILLS OF APPLICANTS AND CONSIST OF CLERICAL, LIBRARY, HOUSEKEEPING, NONINSTRUCTIONAL, INSTRUCTIONAL, HUMAN RELATIONS, AND SPECIAL TALENT (ART, MUSIC) ACTIVITIES. IN QUESTION-AND-ANSWER FORM, QUALIFICATIONS AND TRAINING, CURRENT PROGRAMS, PRACTICAL ASPECTS, CAUTIONS, AND PROGRAMS OF ACTION ARE DISCUSSED. FOR EXAMPLE, TEACHER EDUCATION STUDENTS ARE A PRIME SOURCE OF INSTRUCTIONAL AIDES, WHILE ADULTS INDIGENOUS TO THE COMMUNITY COULD BE HELPFUL WITH DISADVANTAGED STUDENTS. SCREENING OF APPLICANTS THROUGH INTERVIEW AND INSERVICE TRAINING OF AIDES AT LOCAL SCHOOL AND SCHOOL SYSTEM LEVELS IS ADVOCATED. EXPERIENCE WITH AIDES HAS BEEN VERY LARGELY FAVORABLE, BUT THEIR ACTIVITIES IN RELATION TO THOSE OF REGULAR STAFF SHOULD BE CONTINUOUSLY EXAMINED. AIDES SHOULD NOT BE "A CHEAPER WAY TO MAN THE CLASSROOM," BUT, AS THEY FREE TEACHERS FROM ROUTINE DUTIES, GREATER DIFFERENTIATION OF DUTIES AMONG PROFESSIONALS MAY BE EXPECTED AS CLOSER ANALYSES OF TEACHING TASKS ARE CARRIED OUT. THIS DOCUMENT IS AVAILABLE AS STOCK NUMBER 381-11794 FROM THE PUBLICATION-SALES SECTION, NATIONAL EDUCATION ASSOCIATION, 1201 16TH STREET, N.W., WASHINGTON, D.C. 20036, FOR $0.50. (AF)