COMMONWEALTH OF VIRGINIA
DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION
P.O. BOX 2120
RICHMOND, VIRGINIA 23218-2120
SUPTS. MEMO NO. 56
April 4, 2003
INFORMATIONAL
|
TO: |
Division
Superintendents |
|
FROM: |
Jo Lynne
DeMary Superintendent
of Public Instruction |
|
SUBJECT: |
State
Qualifying Score for the ParaPro Assessment for Instructional
Paraprofessionals Supported by Title I, Part A, Funds |
The No Child Left Behind Act addresses the preparation of paraprofessionals. The federal law stipulates that instructional paraprofessionals working in a program supported with funds under Title I, Part A, must meet one of the following three requirements to be considered highly qualified:
(1)
complete at least two years of study at an
institution of higher education; or
(2)
obtain an associate (or higher) degree; or
(3)
have met a rigorous standard of quality and can
demonstrate,
through a local or formal state academic assessment, knowledge of
and the ability to assist in instructing reading, writing, and mathematics (or,
as appropriate, reading readiness, writing readiness, and mathematics
readiness)
Paraprofessionals with
instructional duties hired before January 8, 2002, and working in a program
supported with funds under Title I, Part A, must become highly qualified
by January 8, 2006. All paraprofessionals
with instructional duties hired after the date of enactment (January 8, 2002)
of the No Child Left Behind legislation and working in a program supported
with funds under
Title I, Part A,
must have met the federal definition of a "highly qualified"
paraprofessional.
During the March 26, 2003, meeting, the Board of Education approved the ParaPro Assessment as the formal state academic assessment, and approved an initial Virginia qualifying score of 455. A standard-setting study was completed for the ParaPro assessment, and paraprofessionals across the state participated in the study.
The Educational Testing Service designed the ParaPro Assessment to measure
paraprofessionals knowledge of reading, writing, and mathematics, and their
ability to apply that knowledge to assist in reading, writing, and mathematics
instruction. The two and one-half-hour
test consists of 90 multiple-choice questions in reading, mathematics, and
writing. Approximately two-thirds of
the questions in each subject area focus on basic skills and knowledge, and
approximately one-third of the questions in each subject area focus on the
application of those skills and knowledge in a classroom context. The test questions are arranged by subject
area, with reading first, then mathematics, and then writing. The fee for the ParaPro assessment is $40.
You may access additional information about the ParaPro
assessment, including purchasing the ParaPro Assessment Study
Guide, at the following website: http://www.ets.org/parapro/.
Unless notified to the contrary, detailed
information regarding the procedures for school divisions to offer the ParaPro
Internet-based assessment locally will be disseminated to directors of human
resources offices and licensure contacts within a week following receipt of
this memorandum. Please do not hesitate
to contact
Dr. Thomas A. Elliott, assistant superintendent for
teacher education and licensure, (telliott@pen.k12.va.us)
or Mrs. Patty Pitts, director of
professional licensure, ppitts@pen.k12.va.us)
at (804) 371-2522 if you have any questions.
JLD:psp