NEW HAVEN, Conn. — Connecticut is launching a new free program for aspiring paraeducators to enter the state’s special education workforce amid an ongoing shortage, state officials announced this week.
The Paraeducator Preparation Academy — which is now open for registration — is a six-week program funded by the state that trains participants for an assessment required to work as a paraeducator in Connecticut classrooms.
Participants must commit to working as a paraeducator in certain struggling Connecticut school districts for at least three years after earning their certification, according to the website. Paraeducators work under the supervision of teachers or other certified or licensed professionals, and support classroom instruction.
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“Every student benefits from caring, well-prepared educators, and paraeducators are an indispensable part of that success,” state Education Commissioner Charlene Russell-Tucker said in a press release.
The new academy comes as Connecticut faces an ongoing shortage of educators in special education and many districts need more paraeducators. Earlier this year, Connecticut school districts reported more than 900 special education paraeducator vacancies and 162 other paraeducator vacancies, according to state data.
“Paraeducators are essential members of our school communities, and Connecticut needs more talented people answering that call,” Gov. Ned Lamont said in the press release. “This academy removes barriers, creates new opportunities and helps build the strong special education workforce our students deserve.”
The inaugural pilot session of the academy will run from Aug. 17 through Sept. 23 at the Leaders for Educational Advocacy and Diversity Center, or LEAD, in East Hartford.
The six-week program prepares participants for the ParaPathways assessment, which is one of the ways to become a paraeducator in Connecticut. The academy provides instruction from certified bilingual educators, covers the full cost of study materials and the exam, and offers Spanish-language support, according to the press release.
The Paraeducator Preparation Academy is for those who have earned a high school diploma or equivalent and have completed fewer than two years of college coursework. Participants must also agree to work in an Alliance District — a designated, low-performing public school district that receives extra support from the state — after completing the program and passing the assessment.
There are about three dozen Alliance School districts in Connecticut, generally in the state’s highest-need communities.
“Upon successfully completing the academy and passing the ParaPathways exam, your information and exam results will be shared with the Alliance districts you selected during registration,” according to the website. “Individual districts will determine their hiring needs and may contact you regarding employment opportunities and available mentorship supports.”
The academy is funded through Connecticut’s special education training, education, and testing competitive grant program, which is supported by a $1 million state investment, according to the press release.
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