Recruiting Paraeducators

The pervasive and chronic shortage of instructional assistants for special education is critical given that special education teachers in Oregon have identified adequate numbers of well prepared instructional assistants as the single most important factor in providing a supportive teaching and learning environment.

This Brief and those in coming months will explore issues and resources related to the retention of paraeducators.

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This month's strategy brief features a resource from the Northeast Regional Resource Center (NERRC). NERRC's Spring 2003 newsletter focused on the topic "The Paraeducator Paradox" written by Patricia H. Mueller.

This newsletter issue describes some of the larger issues and growing concerns that surround the employment, training, retention, and support of paraeducators.

"The Paraeducator Paradox" is available full text on the NERRC website.