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Teacher and Paraprofessional Qualifications

Teachers and Licensure

Title I teachers must be appropriately licensed for the grade and content at the time of hire.

Schoolwide Program Schools

All teachers in a Title I Schoolwide school must be appropriately licensed for the grade and content.

Emergency Licenses

A teacher who holds an emergency license for the grade and content is appropriately licensed.

Substitutes

A substitute teacher must be appropriately licensed for the Title I assignment if they teach or work with students for 45 or more consecutive days. It is strongly recommended that shorter term substitute teachers and paraprofessionals also meet these requirements. A substitute teacher who is not appropriately licensed cannot be funded by Title I.

Multi-level Systems of Support Licensure Guidance including Reading Teacher Licenses
 

Overview of Paraprofessional Requirements

For full information, visit the Every Student Succeeds Act (ESSA) Title I Paraprofessionals Hiring Requirements page.

Qualifications

In order to be qualified, a paraprofessional must hold a high school diploma and have completed two years of post-secondary education (48 credits) or an associate's degree or have met a rigorous standard of quality and be able to demonstrate knowledge of and the ability to assist in instructing reading, writing, and mathematics (or, as appropriate, reading readiness, writing readiness, and mathematics readiness) by taking and passing one of the Hiring Requirements Options.

Targeted Assistance Schools

All paraprofessionals who work in a Title I targeted assistance program must meet the above qualifications at the time of hire.

Schoolwide Schools

All paraprofessionals in a schoolwide school must meet the above qualifications. This includes special education paraprofessionals.

Substitutes

A substitute paraprofessional must be qualified for the Title I assignment if they work with students for 45 or more consecutive days. It is strongly recommended that shorter term substitute paraprofessionals also meet these requirements. A substitute paraprofessional who does not meet the requirements cannot be funded by Title I.

Educator Rewards and Incentives

Rewards and incentives can be valuable tools in the effort to address resource inequities and make sure students in schools with the highest needs are matched with high performing educators who have the experience and skills to meet those needs.