Supporting Paraprofessionals

As key contributors to the instructional team, paraprofessionals are integral for Ohio education. This page offers guidance on important aspects of becoming a paraprofessional—from licensure through instructional supports.

Licensure

• Anyone who wishes to become a paraprofessional must first obtain an educational aide permit. After obtaining the permit, an individual can gain the addition of the ESEA Qualified Endorsement. This endorsement is required for educational aides or paraprofessionals to work in Title I settings.

  • Read more about the Educational Aide Permit and ESEA Qualified Endorsement requirements here.

• The ESEA Qualified Endorsement requires an individual to have either completed:

  • An associate degree (or higher);

  • At least two years of study at an accredited institution of higher education; or

  • Pass the ParaPro Assessment.

    • Review ETS’s ParaPro Assessment prep materials, including a study companion, study plan, and assessment tutorial here.

Understanding the Special Education Process

• Become familiar with universal design, a framework for instructional staff to provide academic services that are tailored to the specific needs of students.  

• Gain a strong understanding of the basics of special education by viewing a video series created by the Ohio Department of Education and Workforce. Topics covered in the series include:

  • The Basics of an Individualized Education Program (IEP)

  • The Basics of an Intervention Assistance Teams (IAT)

  • The Basics of an Evaluation Team Report (ETR)

  • The Basics of Progress Monitoring  

• Learn about Ohio’s Plan to Improve Learning Experiences and Outcomes for Students with Disabilities, Each Child Means Each Child.

Classroom Management and Behavioral Supports

• Ohio Center for Autism and Low Incidence (OCALI) Learning Pathway – OCALI will match resources to professional development needs in the areas of assessment, behavior and least restrictive environment. Individuals must first create a free OCALI Pass.

• Positive Behavioral Interventions & Supports (PBIS) for Educators – Resource documents for educators on PBIS.

Instructional Supports

The Ohio Partnership for Excellence in Paraprofessional Preparation (OPEPP) is housed within the Systems Development & Improvement (SDI) Center at the University of Cincinnati. OPEPP’s work involves continuous learning to share current and effective knowledge, skills, and practices that help educators meet a wide range of educational needs. It also focuses on systemic improvement grounded in evidence-based practices that optimize benefits for all learners.

OPEPP has a wide range of modules to support the development of instructional paraprofessionals. Module topics include:

• Helping with Instruction

• Communication and Collaboration

• Helping Students Read

• Helping Students Do Math

Ohio’s Literacy Academy on Demand – A collection of short, web-based courses to support professional learning in language and literacy instruction in elementary, middle and high schools.

Instructional Resources Organized by Content – A list of instructional resources organized by content areas.

The Council for Exceptional Children’s Exceptional Teacher Resource Repository houses a series of peer-reviewed materials to support students.

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