Teacher assistants play an integral role in the schools
of Rhode Island. They provide instructional and other direct services to students under
the supervision and direction of the classroom teacher or other certified
professional staff. Teacher assistants are required to be trained before they are employed
and to engage in ongoing professional development during employment so they can support
school improvement and student achievement goals.
Rhode Island law (RIGL 16-11.2) establishes
requirements related to the employment, training and use of
teacher assistants. As required by this law, the RI Department
of Education (RIDE) has established state standards that
identify pre-employment requirements related to preparation
required for all entry-level teacher assistants.
In
addition to state legal requirements, in January 2002, federal legislation, the
No Child Left Behind Act, was signed into law. This law establishes requirements
for the qualifications of teacher assistants in certain roles.
Legal Requirements
A Teacher Assistant is someone (no matter the job
title) who provides instructional or other direct services related to the
schools curriculum to students (and/or their parents/legal guardian) under the
supervision and direction of the classroom teacher or other appropriately
certified professional staff. This includes those who:
- Provide one-on-one instructional
reinforcement (referred to as tutoring in Title I programs) if
such is scheduled at a time when a student would not otherwise
receive instruction from a teacher,
- Assist with classroom management, such as
by organizing instructional materials,
- Provide instructional assistance in a
computer laboratory,
- Provide instructional support in a library
or media center,
- Provide instructional assistance along
with acting as a translator, or
- Provide instructional support services
under the direct supervision of a highly qualified teacher.
Requirements to Become Employed as an Instructional Teacher
Assistant
NOTE: The RI Department of
Education does not certify individual teacher assistants, but sets minimum
qualifications that school districts must follow in hiring TAs.
School districts may choose to have hiring requirements that are stricter
than these minimum state qualifications.
- Be of good character;
- Have a high
school diploma or general equivalency diploma;
- Completion of a
Teacher Assistant
Pre-Employment Training
Program approved by the RI Department of Education
(RIDE). Three (3) exceptions to this particular
qualification:
- Those hired before January 1,
1999
- Those with certi
fication
as a TA in another state,
- Those with an associates
degree or bachelors degree AND who have
completed coursework or other training
consistent with the
teacher assistant program
standards.
It is a hiring decision to determine if
coursework meets RI standards.
-
Meet
one (1) of the following requirements:
- Successfully pass the
ParaPro Assessment
OR
- Complete at least 2 years of
study at an institution of higher education OR
- Obtain an associates or
higher degree.
ParaPro Assessment
One requirement for instructional teaching
assistants hired after 2001 is to demonstrate, through a formal State or local
academic assessment
(i) knowledge of, and the ability to assist in
instructing, reading, writing, and mathematics; or
(ii) knowledge of and the ability to assist in
instructing, reading readiness, writing readiness, and mathematics readiness, as
appropriate.
In RI, the assessment designated to meet this requirement is the ParaPro
Assessment. The RI Board of Regents
for Elementary and Secondary Education recognizes a score of 461 or better as
passing the ParaPro Assessment.
The ParaPro Assessment is
developed and scored by Educational Testing Service.
Their website contains information on the skills covered in the ParaPro,
preparation materials, both free and available for purchase, and information on
registration for the written version of the test.
Information is also available on their site for people with disabilities
that might need special accommodations.
Visit their website for more detailed information on the test
www.ets.org/parapro.
The ParaPro is available in
two versions a written version and an internet-based version.
Announcing-
CCRI is now offering the ParaPro Assessment for anyone who has completed a
pre-employment training course. The testing schedule is available online
and can be accessed at
http://www.ccri.edu/cwce/career/parapro.html For information about the
ParaPro in general, go to
www.ets.org/parapro
The internet based version of
the ParaPro is given at approved locations in RI.
In order to register for the internet-based version, contact the
individual testing center for dates, times, costs and other information.
Click
here for a
list of centers in RI that administer the internet-based version of the ParaPro
The written version is
administered several times per year at specific locations in RI.
Registration must take place in advance.
For registration information, go to
www.ets.org/parapro.
Pre-Employment Training
All instructional and
non-instructional TAs hired after 1/1/99 must complete a RIDE Approved TA
Training Program (as well as meeting other qualifications) prior to employment.
Following is a list of currently approved Teacher Assistant Pre-Employment
Training Programs. Please contact each program for information on schedules,
cost, and registration.
Click here for list of
Pre-Employment Training Centers
Teacher Assistant Networks
Teacher Assistant (TA)
Networks provide TAs with professional development and the chance to network
with TAs from other districts. Networks meet 3 times each school year (Fall,
Winter and Spring). Sessions
are 4:00-6:00 with light refreshments. Although networks are designed
particularly for TAs, we welcome teachers, administrators & others interested in
TAs & the instructional teams on which they serve. TA Networks provide RIDE
approved professional development, so participants receive a RIDE Professional
Development Credit Report at each session. This
is so participants can share with employers to document professional development
and to keep for their own records. TAs should also document their professional
development in the RICERT TA system.
TA
Networks are a partnership of the Educational Collaboratives & RI Department of
Education. Collaboratives serve as Network Sponsors.
Coming Soon: Teacher Assistant Network flyer for the
2012-2013 school year
Teacher Assistant Information
Sign up for the Rhode Island Teachers Assistant
electronic mailing list to receive our newsletters and current information
regarding Teacher Assistants in Rhode Island.
You do not have to be currently employed to join the mailing list.
TO JOIN THE LIST, YOU MUST:
Send an e-mail to
RIDE-TA-REQUEST@LISTSERV.RI.NET and, in the text of your message (not
the subject line), write: SUBSCRIBE RIDE-TA. Please include the
following information in that email:
First and Last Name
School District
School (if working)
You
will receive an e-mail that requests you to confirm that you sent the e-mail,
and you need to follow the directions in the confirmation e-mail to be added.
NOTE: This list is solely for the purpose of sharing information from the
RI Department of Education regarding Teacher Assistants. The list will not
be shared with others. It is expected that the number of messages will be
minimal over the course of a year.
We ask that you
post, forward and share this information with other teacher assistants that you
know.
Additional
Information
Alice Woods, Education Specialist
Rhode Island Department of Education
Office of Student, Community and
Academic Supports
255 Westminster Street
Providence, R.I. 02903-3400
Alice.Woods@ride.ri.gov
(401) 222-8983