Paraprofessional Guidance

Paraprofessional guidance was updated fall of 2025 based on current interpretations of Federal Regulations.

Federal Law

LEAs must ensure that each instructional paraprofessional who is hired by the LEA and who works in a program supported with Title I, Part A funds meets the following requirements. An instructional paraprofessional is an individual who provides instructional support for classroom teachers. Instructional paraprofessionals should be supervised directly by a licensed teacher.

All instructional paraprofessionals, regardless of the paraprofessional's hiring date, must have earned a secondary school diploma or its recognized equivalent.
An instructional paraprofessional who is hired after January 8, 2002 must have—
- Completed at least two years of study at an institution of higher education;or
- Obtained an associate's or higher degree; or
- Met a rigorous standard of quality, and can demonstrate—through a formal state or local academic assessment—knowledge of, and the ability to assist in instructing, as appropriate—
  - Reading/language arts, writing, and mathematics; or
  - Reading readiness, writing readiness, and mathematics readiness
Each paraprofessional who was hired on or before January 8, 2002 must have met the requirements for new paraprofessionals no later than January 8, 2006.

Exceptions: A paraprofessional does not need to meet the above requirements if the paraprofessional—

Is proficient in English and a language other than English and only acts as a translator to enhance the participation of limited English proficient children;
Has instructional-support duties that consist solely of conducting parental involvement activities; or
Only has non-instructional duties (such as providing technical support for computers, providing personal care services, or performing clerical duties).

Colorado Law

No additional qualification or credentialing requirements for paraprofessionals or teaching assistants have been written into Colorado law.

Formal Assessments

Paraprofessionals may demonstrate through a formal state or local academic assessment their knowledge and ability to assist in instructing, as appropriate. Formal assessments should be valid and reliable. An assessment is valid if it measures mathematics, reading, and writing content at a level equivalent to the knowledge obtained by attending two years of college and is applicable to duties being assigned to the paraprofessional. An assessment is reliable if it provides consistent results. An LEA may develop its own assessment. Existing assessments that are valid and reliable for the purposes of assessing paraprofessionals’ subject matter competency are the ACT-Work Keys and ETS-ParaPro assessments.

Paraprofessionals in Title I Schools

Paraprofessional Requirements

Schoolwide Title I Programs	Targeted Assistance Title I Programs	Title I Preschool Programs
All instructional paraprofessionals in Title I Schoolwide programs must meet the ESSA qualification requirements outlined above.	Instructional paraprofessionals in Title I Targeted Assistance programs who work with Title I students and whose salaries are paid with Title I funds must meet the ESSA qualification requirements outlined above.	Instructional paraprofessionals in Title I Preschool programs who work with Title I students and whose salaries are paid with Title I funds must meet the ESSA qualification requirements outlined above.

Allowable Uses of ESEA Funds for Paraprofessionals

The following table provides examples of how ESSA funds can be used to support paraprofessionals. This list is intended to provide examples, and is not exhaustive of all allowable uses of funds.

ESSA Title	Use of Funds
Title I, Part A	Hire paraprofessionals to support or carry out allowable Title I activities. Pay paraprofessionals for additional planning time with teachers as a school improvement strategy. Paraprofessional participation in professional development if the professional development is evidence-based, aligned with the school’s comprehensive needs assessment and meets the purpose of Title I, Part A.
Title II, Part A	Pay paraprofessionals for additional planning time with the teachers as a retention strategy. Paraprofessional participation in professional development if the professional development is evidence-based, is aligned with the school’s comprehensive needs assessment and meets the purpose of Title II, Part A. Paraprofessional advancement and growth (i.e. paying for coursework), if done as part of an effort to recruit, hire, and retain effective teachers (Grow Your Own Programs). Hire additional paraprofessionals as a means of recruiting and retaining effective teachers so teachers can focus time on instructional priorities. Provide training for paraprofessionals on how to recognize and prevent child sexual abuse if supplemental to state requirements.
Title III, Part A	Provide tutoring and intensified instruction for English /Multilingual Learners (EL/MLs). Pay paraprofessionals to provide supplemental support for community participation programs, family literacy services, and parent outreach and training activities to EL/ML students and their families. Title III, Immigrant Set-Aside: support for personnel, including teacher aides, specifically trained to serve immigrant children with supplemental tutoring, mentoring, and academic or career counseling
Title IV, Part A	Hire paraprofessionals to support or carry out allowable activities pertaining to the three content categories: Well-Rounded Education, Safe and Healthy Students, and Effective Use of Technology. Paraprofessional participation in professional development to improve the use of technology in order to improve the academic achievement and digital literacy of all students.

For Additional Information Contact:

Rachel Echsner

ESEA Title I & II Specialist

(303) 681-6486

Echsner_R@cde.state.co.us

References:

[1] ESSA Sec. 1112 (b)(6): Each local educational agency plan shall provide assurances that the LEA will…ensure that all teachers and paraprofessionals working in a program supported with funds under [Title I, Part A] meet applicable State certification and licensure requirements, including any requirements for certification obtained through alternative routes to certification.

[2] ESSA Sec. 1111(g)(2)(M): Each State plan shall contain assurances that…the State has professional standards for paraprofessionals working in a program supported with funds under this part, including qualifications that were in place on the day before the date of enactment of the Every Student Succeeds Act.

[3] 34 CFR 200.58