ESSA Implications for Paraeducators, Administrators and Teachers

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Te a m W o r k M a k e s t h e D R EA M Wo r k !33rdAnnualNRCPConference

April 1-3,2016OakBrook

TheEveryStudentSucceedsAct(ESSA):

ImplicationsforParaeducators,Teachers,andAdministrators



SessionOverview

• HistoryofFederalLawsand ImplicationsforParaeducators• MarilynLikins,NRCP

• ESSAOverview• DianaZaleski,CenterforEducationalInnovation, IEA

• ESSA– Paraeducator Implications• LynnGoss,MenomonieSchoolDistrict(WI)/NEA

Director

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HistoryofFederalLawsand

ImplicationsforParaeducators



1997AmendmentstoIDEAPartBoftheAct.[34CFR§300.136(f)]

AStatemayallowparaprofessionals andassistantswhoareappropriatelytrainedandsupervised,…..toassistintheprovisionofspecialeducationandrelatedservicestochildrenwithdisabilities.

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WhatIDEA(1997&2004)SaysAboutParaeducatorsIDEA:PartD—Section635– Astateisrequired to ensurethatallpersonnel(including

bothprofessionalsandparaprofessionals whoprovidespecialandgeneraleducation,relatedandearlyintervention/childhood services)havetheskillsandknowledgenecessary tomeettheneedsofchildrenandyouthwithdisabilities.

– EliminationofComprehensive SystemsPersonnelDevelopment(CSPD) (2004)tookawayakeyelementforensuringprofessionaldevelopmentforparaeducatorsbystates.



NoChildLeftBehind(NCLB)ESEA2002,Section 1119

• UndertheLaw• ALLTitle1paraprofessionalsemployedafterthe

passageofthelegislationwillbe‘highlyqualified’

• Paraprofessionalsworkinginclassroom(s)orothereducationalagenciesreceivingTitle1fundingmustdemonstrateevidenceofoneofthefollowing:

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UnderNoChildLeftBehind(NCLB)ESEA2002,Section 1119

• Musthavecompleted:• 2yearsofstudyataninstitutionofhigher

education;OR• EarnedanAssociatesDegree(orhigher);

OR




• Knowledgeof,andtheabilitytoassistininstructingin:1. reading,writing,andmathematics;2. readingreadiness,writingreadiness,

andmathematicsreadiness,asappropriate.

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• Asecondary school diploma, oritsequivalentnecessaryforallparaprofessionals.



UnderNoChildLeftBehind(NCLB)ESEA2002

Paraprofessionals inaTitle1programmay:

• Provideone-on-one tutoring,• Assistwithclassroommanagement,• Conductparental involvementactivities,• Actasatranslator,or• Assistinacomputer laboratory, libraryormediacenter.

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UnderNoChildLeftBehind(NCLB)ESEA2002

Paraprofessionals couldNOT provideanyinstructionalservicetoastudentunless theyworkedunderthe directsupervisionofqualifiedteacher.



Similarities&Differences

IDEA2004• Noshareddefinition of

paraprofessional/paraeducatorwithNCLB

• EliminationofCSPD• Referstothe

‘supervisionofparaeducators’butnotdefined.

NCLB• NCLBwas aGatekeeper….no

morenoless.• Essentiallyjustqualifyingstandardsforhiring

paraeducators• Noprovisionforcontinuing

education&careerdevelopment

• Didnotencouragethedevelopmentofstateorlocalsystems&personnelpractices

• Usedtheterm“direct”supervisionbutagainnotdefined.

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IDEA2004…Stillwithus!

NCLB….aThingofthepast!

ESSA….aThingofthepresent!



ParaprofessionalReferencesinFederalLaws

ESEA1965IDEA1997NCLB2001IDEA2004

074511

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TheEveryStudentSucceedsAct(ESSA)

Overview

Te am W o r k M a k e s t h e D R EA M Wo r k !33rdAnnualNRCPConference


TheEveryStudentSucceedsAct(ESSA)

ESSA reauthorizes theElementaryandSecondaryEducationAct(ESEA)andreplaces theNoChild LeftBehindAct(NCLB).

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WhatRemains?

• ChallengingStandards: Statesmustadoptstandardsinmath,readingor languagearts,andsciencethatalignwithstatecollegeentrancerequirementsandcareerandtechnicaleducationstandards.

• Disaggregation:Statesmustsetaccountabilitygoalsusingdatafromsubgroupsofstudentstoensureachievementofallstudents.

• Interventions: Requiredforlow-performingschools,butnorigidfederallyprescribed list.



WhatHasBeenRemoved?

• AnnualYearlyProgress(AYP)requirements.• Federalpunitive labelsforschools.• Federalrequirementsforteacherevaluation.• Accountabilitysystemsbasedsolely onstandardizedtests.

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Accountability

• Accountabilitysystemsatthestatelevelcannotbebasedsolelyonstandardizedtests.Systemsmustinclude:– State-wideassessments(95%participation rate)– Englishlanguageproficiency– Highschoolgraduation rates– Atleastoneindicator ofschool qualityorstudentsuccess(e.g.,

studentengagement,studentaccesstoandcompletion ofadvancedcoursework, postsecondary readiness,orschool climateandsafety).



Assessment

• Statesmaysetalimit ontheaggregateamountofinstructional timedevotedtostate-wide assessment.

• Requires theuseofmultiple measuresthatassesshigher-order thinkingandunderstanding.– Maybepartiallydelivered intheformofportfolios,projects,orextended

performancetasks.• Support auditstoreduceandimprovestate-wide assessments.• Allowshighschoolstopetition thestatetousenationally-recognized

assessments(e.g.,ACTorSAT)insteadofstate-wide assessments.

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SchoolImprovement

• Statesmustcreateasystemtoidentifyschools forcomprehensivesupportandimprovement.– Lowestperforming5%ofschools.– Highschoolsfailingtograduate1/3ormoreoftheirstudents.– Schoolswithunderperformingsubgroupsthatdonotimproveafterastate-

determinednumberofyears.• Identifiedschools mustdevelopandimplement targetedsupport and

improvementplansinpartnership with teachersandparents.



TeacherEvaluation

• Removesfederalrequirements forteacherevaluationandrequiresdistricts todevelopevaluationplansthatincludeevidenceofstudentachievementwhichmayincludestudent growth.– Supportsongoingprofessionaldevelopmentforteachers,specifically

evidence-basedprofessionaldevelopmentopportunitiesledbyeffectiveteachers.

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AdditionalImprovements

• Expandedcollective bargaining- NowappliestoTitleII.• NewpositivelanguageaboutRestorativeJustice.

– Endingtheschooltoprisonpipeline.• Greaterclarity around“optout” options forstudents.• Improvementstocharter school transparencyandaccountability.



SecretaryofEducationProhibitions

• Prohibitions onUSEDSecretarial authority focusedonprohibiting specificmandateson…– Standardsandassessments– Elementsorpercentagesoftheaccountabilitysystem– Parametersofthesystem– Requiringadditionaldatacollection– Exitrequirements– Teacher evaluation– Teacher effectiveness

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FocusOnLocals

• Schoolsidentified for“comprehensivesupport andimprovement” mustdevelopevidence-basedplansaddressingresource inequalities forapprovalbythedistrict andstate.

• DistrictsMUST engageteachers,paraeducators, andparentsintheplanningprocess.



Opportunities

• Opportunities foreducatorstodriveteachingandlearningdecisions.

• Opportunities tostrengthenpartnerships withparentsandcommunities toadvocateforwhatstudentsreallyneed.

• Collaboration withpartners toinfluence andsupport policyandimplementation atthestateandlocallevels.

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ESSA:ImplicationsforParaeducators



PARAEDUCATOREMPOWERMENT

At...• FederalLevel• StateLevel• LocalLevel

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PARAEDUCATOREMPOWERMENT

HowknowledgeableareyouabouttheEveryStudentSucceedsAct(ESSA)?

1)VeryKnowledgeable2)SomewhatKnowledgeable3)NotKnowledgeable



Wemustensurethatallstudents,regardlessoftheirZIPcode,havethesupport,toolsandtimeto

learn.

All schoolsmustprovideanexcellenteducationthatinspiresstudents’natural curiosity, imagination,and

desiretolearn.

ESSApresentsanopportunitytoensuresuccessforeachandeverystudent.

Thisopportunitywillonlyberealizedifeducatorsspeakuponbehalfofstudents.

OPPORTUNITY STUDENTSUCCESS

EducatorsandparentsmustspeakuptoensureESSAimplementationbenefitstheirstudents.

ACTION

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UnderstandingESSA• GivesParaeducatorsaVoice– Aseatatthetable!

• Promotes RESPECT

• IncreasesLOCALCONTROL

• ExpandsthereachofCollectiveBargaining

• Requiresthecreationofa “StateCommitteeofPractitioners”thatincludes

paraeducators

• MaintainsState TitleI“EntryLevel”RequirementsandProfessionalStandards(ifthey

exist)

• NowrecognizesSpecializedInstructionalSupportPersonnel (SISPs)

• Adoptstheterm‘paraeducator’

• Requiresconsultationwithorganizationsrepresentingeducators(including

paraeducators) inmultipleplaces.



ESSA

TitleIImprovingBasic

ProgramsOperatedByState

andLocalEducationAgencies

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ESSA



andLocalEducationAgencies TitleII

Preparing,Training, andRecruitingHigh-QualityTeachers,Principals ,orotherSchoolLeaders



ESSA





TitleIIIPreparing,Training,andRecruitingHigh-QualityTeachers,Principals ,orotherSchoolLeaders

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ESSA






TitleIV21stCenturySchools



ESSA







TitleVState

InnovationandLocalFlexibility

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ESSA







TitleVState


TitleVIIndian,NativeHawaiian,andAlaskanNativeEducation



ESSA







TitleVState



TitleVIIImpactAid

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ESSA







TitleVState



TitleVIIImpactAid

TitleVIIIGeneralProvisions



ESSA







TitleVState



TitleVIIImpactAid


TitleIXEducation fortheHomelessandOtherLaws

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ESSA







TitleVState



TitleVIIImpactAid


TitleIXEducation fortheHomelessandOtherLaws



FromNCLB…

ToESSA….

Ohhowfarwehavecome!

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Paraeducator/ParaprofessionalReferencesinFederalLaws

ESEA1965IDEA1997NCLB2001IDEA2004ESSA2015

074511…



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Wenowhaveaseatatthetable!



Title I• FEDERAL

• NegotiatedRuleMakingat theFederal Level includesaparaeducator• STATE (SEA)PLANS

• Mustbedevelopedwithtimelyandmeaningfulconsultationwithparaeducators

• StateCommitteeofPractitionersmustincludeparaeducators• Maintains“EntryLevel”Requirementsforparaeducatorsand

professionalstandards(iftheyexist)• LOCAL(LEA)PLANS

• Mustbedevelopedwithtimelyandmeaningfulconsultationwithparaeducators

• RequiresinputfromparaeducatorastohowstudentsareidentifiedforTitle Iservices

• ParentsRighttoKnow(ifchildisprovidedservicesbyaparaeducatorandhis/herqualifications)&FamilyEngagementStrategies

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Doyouknowwhatthehiringrequirementsarefor

paraeducatorsinyourdistrict?



Title IISTATES• Canusefundstoestablish,expandorimprovealternativeroutesforStatecertificationofteachersforparaeducators

• Supportopportunities toparticipateinjointeffortstoaddressthetransitiontoelementaryschool(includingSchoolReadiness)

• ParaeducatorsmustbeconsultedwhendevelopingStateApplicationforTitleIIFunds

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Title II, cont.LOCALS• Mustconsult paraeducators andtheorganization representing

themwhenapplyingforsubgrants fromtheSEA• Fundscanbeusedforparaeducator advancement,professional

growthand/oremphasisonleadershipopportunities, multiplecareerpathsandpaydifferentiation

• Fundscanbeusedforparaeducator training forBirth to12literacy

• Fundstobeusedforparaeducator professional development



Title III

ELL• ProfessionalDevelopmentforparaeducatorstoincreaseeffectivenessinmeetingtheneedsofELL

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Title IV21stCenturySchools• ProfessionalDevelopmentforparaeducatorstousetechnologyeffectively;toimproveinstruction andstudentachievement



Title VIIndian,NativeHawaiianandAlaskanNativeAmerican• ProfessionalDevelopmentforparaeducators

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Title VIIIDEFINITIONS

• SEC.8002(37)PARAPROFESSIONAL.—Theterm‘paraprofessional’,alsoknownasa‘paraeducator’, includesaneducation assistantandinstructional assistant.’’

• DefinesProfessional Developmentandincludes paraeducatorsasrecipients ofsuchprofessionaldevelopment



Advocate

• Whenyougobackhomehowwillyouadvocateforaparaeducatorseatatthetable?

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PROCEED UNTIL APPREHENDED



IamaParaeducatorand#ESSA givesmeaseatatthetable

#NRCP2016#ParaPower

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ParaeducatorProfessionalDevelopment

WishList



Questions

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Resources• NationalEducationAssociation

– h t t p://www.nea .org/e s s abegins– h t t ps://www.mynea360.org/login (Ed C ommunit ie s)

• USDepartmentofEducation– www.edgov/e s s a

• NRCP– www.nrcpara .org



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