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Grant Wood AEA offers many opportunities for Paraeducator professional development including workshops and courses leading to Paraeducator Certification and Certification renewal as approved by the Iowa Dept. of Education.
Paraeducators are essential members of the education team serving Iowa’s children and youth. The Iowa Guide to Effective Paraeducator Practices – Edition II defines a paraeducator as “an employee who works under the supervision of teachers or other licensed personnel. The ultimate responsibility for the design and implementation of education and related service programs belongs to the supervising teacher or other licensed personnel. The paraeducator is one whose position is either instructional in nature or who delivers other direct or indirect services to children, youth and/or their parents.”
"Paraeducator" is the title used for a variety of different roles including teacher associate, teaching assistant, classroom aide, instructional aide, job coach, media associate, health aide and paraprofessional. Paraeducators are an important part of the education workforce and their numbers have been increasing steadily. Many paraeducators are assigned to specific students. Others are assigned to whole classrooms.
Recent legislation has impacted paraeducators. The 2001 No Child Left Behind Act (NCLB) requires highly qualified paras for those that provide instructional support in Title I programs or buildings (effective for those hired after January 2002). Under the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act of 2004 (IDEA 2004), Iowa Paraeducators who provide services to students with disabilities do not have any certification requirements because Iowa’s state approved system for Paraeducator Certification is voluntary. Individual districts can require certification as a condition of employment.
Paraeducator Certification Program
Iowa’s voluntary certification program for paraeducators is based on competencies that reflect the skills necessary for multiple para assignments. Level I Generalist PK – 12 Paraeducator Certification requires 90 contact hours as defined by Iowa Code. Grant Wood AEA offers three 30-hour classes leading to Level I certification. Courses in Professional Strategies, Instructional Strategies and Behavioral Strategies are offered on a rotating basis in the fall, spring and summer semesters. Courses are scheduled on a typical semester schedule and may be taken in any order.
To obtain the PK -12 Paraeducator Generalist Certificate participants must demonstrate that they have met all of the required competencies as part of the specified coursework. They must obtain a recommendation from the institution where the approved paraeducator program was completed. The recommendation is signed and forwarded the Board of Educational Examiners by the certifying official. Applicants must be at least 18 years of age, have a high school diploma or graduate equivalent diploma and complete the required background checks.
Paraeducator Certification Renewal
Paraeducator Certificates must be renewed every five years. Recertification course work can be completed anytime during the five year certification period (from the issue to the expiration date of the certificate). To renew, a para must submit to the Board of Educational Examiners an application, $40 renewal fee, documentation of completion of Child and Dependent Adult Abuse training and verification of successful completion of coursework totaling three units (each unit equaling 15 contact hours) in any combination listed below.
- One unit may be earned for each hour of credit which leads to the completion of the requirements for an area of concentration not currently held.
- One unit may be earned for each hour of credit that will assist a paraeducator to demonstrate the knowledge of and the ability to assist in reading, writing, or mathematics.
- One unit may be earned for each hour of credit completed which supports either the building or district career development plan.
- One unit may be earned for each semester hour of college credit.
Renewal activities to meet the above criteria may include:
- Paraeducator approved courses offered by Grant Wood AEA's Professional Development Program.
- An additional paraeducator area of concentration offered by Kirkwood Community College.
- Participation in the Advanced Certification resulting in an Associate of Arts degree offered by Kirkwood Community College.
- Participation in local district/building job embedded, collective Professional Development activities that support the district/building career development plan and are offered for recertification credit.
The Linker
An educational newspaper, published by Grant Wood AEA, features information for paraeducators and all education professionals. The Linker is published in September, November, January, and April.
If you have additional questions about the certification or renewal process please contact:
Kathy Dulle
Professional Development Coordinator
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(319) 399-6517
1-800-798-9771
Ext. 6517
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