Under the supervision of a site administrator and daily work direction of a credentialed teacher(s), provides instructional assistance to students, individually or in groups, with severe and, often, multiple emotional, behavioral, cognitive, learning, communication, and/or physical disabilities in a variety of educational environments which may include specific classrooms, learning centers, home settings, and/or other instructional facilities; assists in the supervision of students in the classroom, other assigned learning environment, and/or during play; assists students with their physical care needs, including some specialized care procedures; assists with the implementation of behavioral and instructional support plans; monitors and reports student behavior and performance; relieves the teacher of routine clerical duties, and performs other related duties as assigned.

The typical duties and employment standards are representative of positions within this classification. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential duties of the specific position.

As directed by the teacher and in accordance with the students abilities, instructs individual or small groups of students with severe and, often multiple, physical, emotional, mental, learning and communication disabilities in various academic and other subject areas.

Assists students by using positive behavioral strategies, positive reinforcements, social stories, peer facilitation and peer training for the purpose of teaching appropriate social behaviors in accordance with students’ social and behavioral learning goals; models prosocial, respectful interactions for students; reinforces lesson concepts and skills using special tutorial techniques or sensory training exercises; provides additional reinforcement and repetition and presents to different learning styles and student abilities.

Explains the teacher’s instructions, activity directions, etc. to students as necessary; utilizes teacher provided materials or selects instructional activities and techniques within a limited range consistent with the teacher’s lesson plans to meet the needs of individual students.

Monitors the classroom to motivate and encourage students to remain engaged and stay on task; assists students to improve self-control and social development skills, and facilitates social interactions following the teacher’s plan for positive behavioral support and orderly classroom management; in accordance with district approved methods, physically restrains students demonstrating aggressive behaviors; demonstrates or instructs on life skills such as using eating utensils, practicing hygiene habits, washing dishes, folding laundry, etc.

Gathers, compiles, and prepares data of observations of student performance in academic and school activities; provides assistance to professional staff in the areas of physical, occupational, and speech therapy; confers with the teacher regarding student performance, progress and problems; refers parent to classroom teacher or administrative contact when necessary.

Accompanies students into their general education, exploratory classrooms and/or service provider locations to provide assistance such as reading and checking assignments, taking lecture notes, making adaptations/modifications/accommodations to assignments and classroom environment under the direction of the teacher, assisting with classwork and homework, monitoring behavior and implementing behavioral plans, collecting and recording data, maintaining class/subject notebooks, and collecting handouts.

Assists students with personal care such as feeding, toileting, changing diapers and clothing, cleaning/grooming and other physical or health needs; may lift students in and out of wheelchairs, braces and other types of equipment as necessary; assures the safe use and operation of wheelchairs and other equipment.

As assigned, may perform a variety of specialized and minor health care procedures such as suctioning of tracheostomy tubes, gastrostomy tube feedings, nebulizer treatments, cleaning catheters, and changing ostomy/colostomy bags.

Prepares/modifies instructional materials and tests; types, files, duplicates, assembles, and laminates materials as directed; maintains written and computer records of student progress for the teacher; operates a variety of office and instructional equipment as assigned.

Assists in administering teacher-prepared tests/quizzes, and standardized achievement tests; corrects tests, class work, and homework with objective format using pre-established procedures and norms.

Monitors students in assigned areas such as playground, halls, etc., enforcing safety and appropriate behavior; assists students in boarding and disembarking the bus and provides supervision while escorting students to various locations on campus; accompanies students on field trips and/or therapeutic sessions off campus as assigned; promotes meaningful inclusion by actively minimizing barriers during inclusive activities with general education peers; monitors the classroom while the teacher is busy or absent for short periods of time.

Carries out mandated reporting obligations to ensure student safety as required by law.

Participates in in-service, professional development, and mandated training as assigned.

Performs other related duties as assigned.

In addition to the above duties, bilingual positions also interpret orally and translate in writing between English and a designated language. Interprets for student, parent, or teacher, as required, and may serve as interpreter and/or translator for teacher in parent conferences or other meetings.

The Paraeducator Special Education– Structured Communication and Social/Behavioral Program provides instructional assistance to students using applied behavioral analysis strategies for the purpose of teaching communication and appropriate social behavior. A paraeducator in this assignment performs significant data collection to assist staff in monitoring student progress. The Paraeducator-Special Education II provides instructional assistance and, usually, more constant physical care to individual or groups of students with severe and, often, multiple physical, emotional, behavioral, cognitive, learning and/or communication disabilities such as emotional disturbance, autism, orthopedic impairment, significant mental retardation and blindness The Paraeducator-Special Education I provides instructional assistance and, as necessary, physical care assistance for students, individually or in groups, with special needs in a Separate Class (SC), Specialized Academic Instruction (SAI) classroom, Inclusion, General Education or other non-critical care instructional program.

Knowledge of: Reading, writing and mathematics exceeding the 12th grade level; basic principles of child behavior and development; basic academic subjects taught in elementary and middle schools; basic instructional methods and techniques; classroom procedures and appropriate behavior; problems and concerns of students having special needs; basic record keeping and data collection techniques.

Ability to: Read, write and speak English proficiently; assist in instructing or assist in instructing readiness for reading, writing and mathematics in a classroom or assigned learning environment; reinforce instruction to individual or small groups of students in an assigned subject area as directed by the teacher; modify instruction techniques or methods to meet the needs of students; perform basic mathematical computations accurately; work cooperatively and effectively with teachers and follow their directions; work cooperatively with coworkers, school staff, parents and others; motivate, encourage positive learning patterns, gain the cooperation of, and relate well to students as an adult role model; be especially patient, consistent, caring and understanding in approach to students; monitor students and provide behavioral support according to approved District policies and procedures; remain calm and demonstrate patience in stressful situations; willingly perform hygienic and physical care duties as needed; serve as a positive language model for students; be flexible and able to adapt to changes in routine and duties; be organized and manage time effectively; maintain records and confidentiality; be reliable in attendance, punctuality, and follow-through; work with some independence and exercise initiative; effectively utilize data collection techniques; perform routine clerical duties and learn to operate instructional and office equipment; maintain grooming and dress appropriate for the job duties and as an adult role model; learn and implement specialized instructional techniques as well as positive behavioral techniques (e.g. discrete trial, pivotal response training); learn specialized and minor physical and/or health care procedures. Implement and model alternative communication strategies with students. Bilingual positions require the ability to speak, read, and write a designated language in addition to English.

Essential Physical Activities and Work Environment: Sufficient stamina to stand, walk, sit, kneel, squat, bend, crawl, twist, and reach on a daily basis to perform various activities in a classroom, learning center, home setting, other instructional facilities and playground area ; sufficient strength to occasionally lift, move and/or carry various items up to 25 lbs; sufficient visual acuity to read text in a wide variety of typed/written formats and monitor student activities; hearing sufficient to understand normal conversations; clarity of speech sufficient to explain instructional concepts to children and discuss them with adults; finger dexterity sufficient to operate a variety of office equipment, write and grasp, push and pull various light objects and equipment in a classroom, learning center, home setting, and/or other instructional facility; sufficient mobility to confine/control active students in an assigned area and visit classrooms and other locations on campus; sufficient strength to restrain students who become physically aggressive and occasionally lift, move, and/or carry physically disabled students with or without assistance weighing up to 50 lbs and adjust, push or pull orthopedic equipment. Potential exposure to communicable diseases and contact with blood and other bodily fluids. Potential exposure to physical injury from aggressive behavior. Work is performed in primarily indoor environments but the necessity to go to different locations involves some exposure to the outdoor elements. The job generally requires 40% sitting, 20% walking, and 40% standing.

Required Background: Possession of a secondary school diploma or its recognized equivalent and one of the following: 1) completion of at least two years of study (minimum 48 semester hours) at an institution of higher education; 2) possession of an associate’s (or higher) degree; or 3) passing a rigorous assessment that demonstrates the knowledge of, and the ability to assist in instructing, reading, writing, and mathematics at a level meeting State and Federal requirements. Experience working with individuals with behavioral challenges or autism is desirable.

Qualifications: In order to be considered qualified for a vacancy in this classification, a candidate must possess the required background and successfully demonstrate such background, knowledge, skills and abilities through an examination process.

Prepared by AS/CA January, 2011

Approved by the Personnel Commission on January 20, 2011

Revised 08/1/2017- CS Approved by Personnel Commission on August 17, 2017

Title Revised 10/1/2019. Approved by Personnel Commission on October 17, 2019

Salary Reallocation Eff. 7/1/2020; Approved by Personnel Commission on 6/3/2020

Revised 09/16/2021-DB. Approved by Personnel Commission on 9/16/2021

Revised 04/22/2022-AL

Revised 09/08/2022-AL; Approved by Personnel Commission on 09/15/2022