Committee recommends adopting a Title I paraprofessional assessment policy with multiple vendor options

The committee recommended adoption of a Title I paraprofessional assessment policy that would formalize assessment options for paraprofessionals working in Title I schools who do not meet degree or higher-education hour criteria.

Assistant State Superintendent Kelly Meadows explained the federal requirement that paraprofessionals in Title I schools must either have two years of higher education, an associate degree or higher, or a passing score on an approved paraprofessional assessment. Meadows said the department proposes formally adopting ETS’s regenerated ParaPathways assessment and two Pearson Evaluation Services products (Foundations of Classroom Support; Foundations of Classroom Support and Instruction) so paraprofessionals have multiple assessment options. She said pass-rate data for the new assessments are not available because the products are recently released.

Board members asked how districts and the state will support paraprofessionals preparing for assessments. Meadows said both vendors offer free and paid preparatory resources and that MSDE could compile links and materials on a centralized webpage for test takers. She confirmed there is a fee to take and retake the assessments and that a passing score is a one-time certification used to meet Title I employment requirements.

The committee moved to recommend adoption of the policy to the full State Board; the motion was seconded and approved by the committee.