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State Examples
Connecticut
The Connecticut State Department of Education has elected to use the ETS Para Pro Assessment and is developing a series of workshops and practice tests to assist paraprofessionals in preparing for the assessment. A 12-hour test preparation workshop for paraprofessionals was sponsored by the American Federation of Teachers in four regions of the state.
Georgia
In Georgia, the state’s Professional Standards Commission has contracted with Georgia State University to develop a skills assessment to be administered through participating Department of Technical and Adult Education colleges. The 2-1/2-hour assessment will test reading, writing, math and classroom skills.
Illinois
The Illinois State Board of Education has endorsed several testing options including locally developed assessments that are consistent with state board guidelines, the ACT WorkKeys Certificate program and the ETS ParaPro Assessment. In addition, the state board has awarded a $500,000 grant to the Illinois Community College Board to coordinate development of a test preparation series for the ETS ParaPro and ACT WorkKeys assessments. The development effort will include representatives from community colleges, K-12 schools, regional offices of education, teachers unions and state board staff. The test preparation series will consist of both on-site and online modules and will be offered to paraprofessionals free of charge. Several Illinois community colleges have been authorized to provide testing and other services in support of the WorkKeys and ETS ParaPro programs.
Iowa
The Iowa State Board of Education has approved the use of Title I funds by school districts to help pay the costs for eligible paraprofessionals taking their local community college entrance/placement exam. The exam covers reading, writing, mathematics and writing.
Michigan
Michigan has approved two assessment options: The Basic Skills Test of the Michigan Test for Teacher Certification and the ACT WorkKeys.
North Carolina
North Carolina will be offering apprenticeships, professional development programs and assessments administered by individual school districts and community colleges. In addition to completing the WorkKeys Occupational Profile for Teaching Assistants, the paraprofessional must earn 96 hours of continuing education credit.
Oklahoma
Oklahoma is requiring paraprofessionals who choose the assessment option to pass the Oklahoma General Education Test for teachers, which assesses general education knowledge and skills such as critical thinking, computation and communications. The test includes both selected-response questions and a writing assignment.
Oregon
Oregon has established a working group to develop guidelines for the paraprofessional component of NCLB. The group consists of state department of education staff, paraprofessionals, teachers, school and district administrators, college staff and union representatives. Preliminary recommendations suggest that while the state should develop an assessment tool to meet the NCLB criteria outlined in the law, school districts should be allowed to set their own standards. Some districts already have assessments in use, but it is unclear whether they meet the pedagogy requirement in the law.
Utah
In Utah, 26 members of the State Senate recently recommended to the Utah State Board of Education that the state consider a portfolio assessment rather than a test.
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