Retaining 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 strategy brief highlights, Resource Manual: The Implementation of Effective Paraeducator Practices in Educational Settings, an online resource developed by the North Dakota Department of Public Instruction.

This manual was created to assist school districts to make effective and appropriate use of paraeducators. The manual is meant to serve as a resource for general education teachers, special education personnel, related service personnel, administrators, and the paraeducators themselves. The table of contents listed below provides an ideas as to the abundance of helpful information, tools, and resources included in this manual

1. Resource Manual
2. Appendix A - Glossary of Terms and Abbreviations
3. Appendix B - Suggestions for Administrators
4. Appendix C - Suggestions for Supervisory Personnel
5. Appendix D - Job Performance Evaluation
6. Appendix E - Paraeducator Portfolio
7. Appendix F - Sample Job Descriptions for Paraeducators
8. Appendix G - Resources
9. Appendix H - Administrative Rules
10. Appendix I - Required Modules for Paraeducation Training
    • Paraeducator Training Module 1: Student Support Concepts
    • Paraeducator Training Module 2: Human Growth and Development & the Impact of Disabilities
    • Paraeducator Training Module 3: Utilizing Effective Instructional Strategies to Serve Students with Disabilities in Integrated Settings
11. Appendix J - Information for Paraprofessionals Working w/Students who Have Visual Impairments

Resource Manual: The Implementation of Effective Paraeducator Practices in Educational Settings, is available on the Special Education website of the North Dakota Department of Public Instruction.