Job Description of a Paraprofessional

Paraprofessionals may offer one-on-one tutoring, translation, classroom management and discipline. In special education and early childhood classrooms, paraprofessionals may have to provide more physical help to the students. The No Child Left Behind Act states that Title I schools, schools which receive Title I funding, must enforce certain standards when employing paraprofessionals.

Under these rules, paraprofessionals must have an associate's degree or have completed two years at an institute of higher learning, or meet "a rigorous standard of quality and be able to demonstrate, through a formal assessment, knowledge of and ability to assist in reading, writing and mathematics instruction."

Duties can vary depending on the educational level, age and abilities of the students. In general, paraprofessionals work with individual students or in small groups to assist in learning; help maintain a positive classroom atmosphere; guides remedial work and independent study; may have to translate in bilingual classrooms; helps score diagnostic tests; clerical tasks such as taking classroom attendance; and aids in maintaining the physical classroom, such as bulletin boards, desks and supplies.

Some states offer grants and scholarships to paraprofessionals who would like to become licensed classroom teachers. Massachusetts offers the Paraprofessional Teacher Preparation Grant to paraprofessionals who have already served for two years in a Massachusetts school or is in an undergraduate teacher preparation program in a high-need area such as math, science, bilingual education or special education. (References 3) Paraprofessionals can also join the American Federation of Teachers Paraprofessional and School-related Personnel division, which offers free liability and accidental death insurance, legal services, conferences and educational materials.

Paraprofessionals are usually paid hourly and work during the average school year. Salaries can differ drastically depending on state, with some states paying minimum wage for paraprofessionals and some paying as high as $20 per hour.

According to the US Bureau of Labor Statistics, jobs for paraprofessionals is expected to grow by ten percent between 2006 and 2016, with the highest area of growth being in the field of special education.