State Policies and Guidelines on Preparation and Utilization of Paraprofessionals

This page presents reports with regards to the policy guidelines and requirements that exist in each state concerning paraprofessionals. To compile comprehensive information for each of the 50 states, the PAR²A Center used several strategies. Each state department of education website was reviewed to determine whether policy concerning paraeducators was posted. Using the site maps or search engines available at the site, the term paraeducator and/or paraprofessional as a keyword was used. Both the address of the department of education website and the term used by that state to identify these personnel are listed on each report. The located policies were categorized under the following headings:

  • Compliance with NCLB;
  • Standards to Measure Professional Growth of Paraeducators;
  • Policy that Distinguishes Paraeducators Working with Special Education;
  • Resource Guide for Supervisors: Assisting Local Agencies in Supervision of Paraeducators Beyond NCLB Mandated Expectations, and;
  • Standards to Measure Professional Growth of Teachers in a Position to Supervise Paraeducators.

Upon completion of an individual state’s policy report, the report was then sent to a state representative for verification of the current content. If the state representative elected to edit that report, corrections were made. Not all states responded to our request for verification. The states that did verify the information have a notation at the end of the report with the name of the representative, title and the date that the representative responded. We continue to update the policy guidelines and requirements for paraeducators on a monthly basis.

To find out about the existing policies in a particular state, click on the state in the map below.

Washington Idaho Montana Maine Minnesota North Dakota Oregon Michigan Michigan New Hampshire Vermont Wisconsin New York Michigan South Dakota Michigan Wyoming Massachusetts California Rhode Island Connecticut Nevada Iowa Pennsylvania Utah New York Nebraska New Jersey Illinois Ohio Indiana Colorado Maryland Delaware West Virginia Maryland Missouri Virginia Kansas Virginia Kentucky Arizona North Carolina New Mexico Tennessee Oklahoma Texas Arkansas South Carolina Georgia Alabama Mississippi Louisiana Alaska Florida Alaska Hawaii Florida Hawaii Alaska Hawaii Hawaii Hawaii Hawaii Alaska Alaska Alaska Hawaii Alaska Alaska