ESEA: Developing the Paraprofessional Portfolio

Prepared by

Carolyn Ellis Logan, Consultant

Professional Development/Human Rights DepartmentMichigan Education Association 517/332-6551, extension 6212

2

Basic Definition of a Basic Definition of a ParaprofessionalParaprofessional

A school employee who provides instructional support A school employee who provides instructional support for students under the supervision of certified staff.for students under the supervision of certified staff.

3

ParaprofessionalParaprofessionalDefined for the Purposes of Defined for the Purposes of

ESEA/NCLB:ESEA/NCLB: One who provides instructional support in a program One who provides instructional support in a program

supported with Title I A funds.supported with Title I A funds. Including paraprofessionals who:Including paraprofessionals who:

/ Provide one-on-one tutoring,

/ Assist with classroom management,

/ Provide instructional assistance in a computer laboratory,

/ Conduct parental involvement activities,

/ Provide support in a library or media center,

/ Provide instructional support services under the direct supervision of a teacher

4

completed at least two years of study at an completed at least two years of study at an institution of higher educationinstitution of higher education

oror obtained an associates (or higher) degreeobtained an associates (or higher) degree

oror

ESEA/NCLBESEA/NCLBParaprofessional Qualification Paraprofessional Qualification

RequirementsRequirements

In order to be ESEA/NCLB qualified, a Title I In order to be ESEA/NCLB qualified, a Title I Instructional Paraprofessional must meet Instructional Paraprofessional must meet one one of the of the following:following:

Passed a state or local academic assessment establishing that the paraprofessional has knowledge of, and the ability to assist in, instructing reading, writing and math.

5

State Academic Assessment State Academic Assessment OptionsOptions WorkKeys Assessment and Skill Levels WorkKeys Assessment and Skill Levels

forfor Title I Paraprofessionals: Reading for Title I Paraprofessionals: Reading for

Information (level 4); Applied Information (level 4); Applied Mathematics (level 4); and Writing (level Mathematics (level 4); and Writing (level 3).3).

ETS Parapro Assessment (state qualifying ETS Parapro Assessment (state qualifying score of 460)score of 460)

Basic Skills Test of the Michigan Test for Basic Skills Test of the Michigan Test for Teacher Certification (must pass reading, Teacher Certification (must pass reading, writing and math components)writing and math components)

6

Local Academic AssessmentLocal Academic Assessment

Only one local assessment Only one local assessment process is process is approvedapproved by the by the Michigan State Board of Education Michigan State Board of Education as rigorous and meets ESEA/NCLB as rigorous and meets ESEA/NCLB requirements.requirements.

A portfolio developed to comply with the state “Guidelines for the Michigan Paraprofessional PortfolioAssessment”.

7

A portfolio is a collection of A portfolio is a collection of documents including lists, documents including lists, descriptions, explanations, examples descriptions, explanations, examples or other evidence of opportunities or other evidence of opportunities that the paraprofessional has that the paraprofessional has experienced experienced and and completed to learn completed to learn and practice as a paraprofessional.and practice as a paraprofessional.

What is a Portfolio?What is a Portfolio?

8

The portfolio assessment The portfolio assessment process simply highlights:process simply highlights:

What you have done or been involved in What you have done or been involved in to develop/improve your ability to assist to develop/improve your ability to assist in instructing reading, writing and in instructing reading, writing and math.math.

-- and –-- and –

How you have benefited and/or used How you have benefited and/or used what you learned from what you have what you learned from what you have done or been involved in to assist in done or been involved in to assist in instructing in reading writing and instructing in reading writing and math.math.

9

Framework for the Portfolio Framework for the Portfolio Assessment ProcessAssessment Process

Strengthen reading and writing Strengthen reading and writing skills and understanding of skills and understanding of mathmath

Demonstrate content area Demonstrate content area knowledge in reading, writing knowledge in reading, writing and mathand math

Focus on assisting with Focus on assisting with instruction in reading, writing instruction in reading, writing and mathand math

10

Basic Elements of the

Portfolio Assessment

District Review District Review CommitteeCommittee

Qualified Qualified ColleagueColleague

11

For the portfolio, a For the portfolio, a District Review District Review CommitteeCommittee, including a , including a balanced representation balanced representation of paraprofessionals, of paraprofessionals, administrators, and administrators, and teachers, must be teachers, must be established to approve established to approve the completion of all the completion of all paraprofessional paraprofessional requirements and to requirements and to recommend the issuance recommend the issuance of the ESP Certificate.of the ESP Certificate.

12

Qualified ColleagueQualified Colleague

For the portfolio, For the portfolio, the paraprofessional the paraprofessional must work with one must work with one or more “Qualified or more “Qualified Colleagues” to guide Colleagues” to guide and assist the and assist the development of the development of the portfolio, and the portfolio, and the submission of the submission of the completed portfolio completed portfolio to the District to the District Review Committee.Review Committee.

13

About the Qualified About the Qualified ColleagueColleague

An ESEA/NCLB qualified teacher or paraprofessional An ESEA/NCLB qualified teacher or paraprofessional or an administratoror an administrator

The Qualified Colleague: Is the paraprofessional’s choice based upon an Is the paraprofessional’s choice based upon an

agreement between the two;agreement between the two; Works collaboratively as a colleague and in a Works collaboratively as a colleague and in a

confidential manner throughout the assessment confidential manner throughout the assessment process;process;

Assists in establishing the number of points to be Assists in establishing the number of points to be awarded for a particular activity/experience if not set awarded for a particular activity/experience if not set by the guidelines; andby the guidelines; and

Assists the development and submission of the Assists the development and submission of the completed portfolio to the completed portfolio to the District Review District Review Committee for Portfolio Assessment.Committee for Portfolio Assessment.

The Qualified Colleague may be:

14

A point system is used to document A point system is used to document each type of activity/experience used each type of activity/experience used for the portfolio.for the portfolio.

A total of at least A total of at least 60 points 60 points must be accumulated must be accumulated based on the following based on the following standards.standards.

ProfessionalProfessional DevelopmentDevelopment

Professional Professional Dialogue/Observation/Demonstration Mandatory Math Knowledge Mandatory Math Knowledge StandardStandard

Optional StandardOptional Standard

Standards for the Portfolio Assessment

15

Professional Development Professional Development StandardStandard

Professional readingsProfessional readings (selected or (selected or recommendedrecommended) ) as documented by the as documented by the Professional Reading Record (Form Professional Reading Record (Form A) A) and and the the Professional Reading Professional Reading Reflection Framework (Form B).Reflection Framework (Form B).

This standard includes:

No more than 30 points (one half) of the 60 points required for the portfolio may be earned for Professional Reading.

16

17

18

Professional Development Professional Development Standard (Standard (cont’d.)cont’d.)

Workshop & Related TypeWorkshop & Related Type ActivitiesActivities such as such as school, district, regional or state school, district, regional or state workshops/conferences, meetings, special workshops/conferences, meetings, special presentations/training sessions/classes, etc. that presentations/training sessions/classes, etc. that focus on the academic achievement in the focus on the academic achievement in the content area of reading, writing and math. content area of reading, writing and math. Documented by the Documented by the Professional Professional Development/Workshop Participation Development/Workshop Participation RecordRecord ( (Form C) Form C) and and the the Professional Professional Development Workshop/Reflection Development Workshop/Reflection FrameworkFramework (Form D)(Form D)

No more than 30 points (one half) of the 60 points required for the Portfolio may be earned for Professional Development Workshops

19

20

21

Professional Professional Dialogue/Observation/Demonstration Dialogue/Observation/Demonstration StandardStandard

Volunteer or appointed membership Volunteer or appointed membership on a school, on a school, district, regional or state committee/panel for district, regional or state committee/panel for curriculum development/instruction;curriculum development/instruction;

Made or assisted Made or assisted presentation(s)/demonstration(s) presentation(s)/demonstration(s) to colleagues to colleagues that enhance understanding of instructional support that enhance understanding of instructional support in reading, writing, and math; andin reading, writing, and math; and

Made visitations/observations Made visitations/observations to learn methods, to learn methods, techniques, tools for assisting instruction to techniques, tools for assisting instruction to students.students.

A range of points may be earned for the following activities/experiences involving conferences, collaborative sessions, and observations such as:

These activities/experiences are to be documented by the Supportive Instruction Activity Reflection Framework (Form G) to be submitted to the participant’s District Review Committee.

22

23

Mandatory Knowledge ofMandatory Knowledge ofMath Objectives StandardMath Objectives Standard

The Title I funded paraprofessional The Title I funded paraprofessional mustmust provide provide evidence of knowledge, competence and ability to evidence of knowledge, competence and ability to assist instruction in math as demonstrated by assist instruction in math as demonstrated by either observations or dialogue with a Qualified either observations or dialogue with a Qualified Colleague. This mandate, Colleague. This mandate, worth one portfolio worth one portfolio pointpoint, must be recorded on the , must be recorded on the Math Knowledge Math Knowledge Checklist (Form E)Checklist (Form E) to be submitted to the to be submitted to the participant’s District Review Committee.participant’s District Review Committee.

This mandate must be met even if the total number of Portfolio Points earned exceeds the 60 point requirement.

Questions concerning this form should be directed to Carolyn Logan at 800/292-1934, ext. 6212.

For additional examples of items to meet the Math Objectives, go to http://www.mea.org/clients/pdf/Parapro-Mathobjectives.pdf.

24

25

26

Optional StandardOptional StandardOther activities/experiences for which Portfolio Points may be Other activities/experiences for which Portfolio Points may be

earned include:earned include:

College Credit College Credit that supports the paraprofessional’s understanding of that supports the paraprofessional’s understanding of reading, writing and math based on a transcript of course work reading, writing and math based on a transcript of course work andand recorded on the Portfolio Summary recorded on the Portfolio Summary (Form F)(Form F) submitted to the submitted to the participant’s District Review Committee. participant’s District Review Committee. One point per semester One point per semester hour with no time limit or maximum. If less than 60 semester hour with no time limit or maximum. If less than 60 semester hours, then the mandatory math standard must be met.hours, then the mandatory math standard must be met.

Relevant Work Experience Relevant Work Experience – assisting students with instruction in – assisting students with instruction in an education setting, and recorded on the Portfolio Summary an education setting, and recorded on the Portfolio Summary (Form (Form F). One point for each complete year of employment, a F). One point for each complete year of employment, a maximum of 30 portfolio points may be earned for relevant maximum of 30 portfolio points may be earned for relevant work experience and;work experience and;

Supportive Instruction Activities – Supportive Instruction Activities – special projects, individualized special projects, individualized study, committee/panel participation and other activities involving study, committee/panel participation and other activities involving independent work in the content areas of reading, writing and math, independent work in the content areas of reading, writing and math, and recorded on the Supportive Instruction Activity Reflection and recorded on the Supportive Instruction Activity Reflection Framework Framework (Form G, as shown on page 22)(Form G, as shown on page 22). . A range of points A range of points may be earned for these activities as negotiated with the may be earned for these activities as negotiated with the qualified colleague.qualified colleague.

27

28

The evaluation of items The evaluation of items submitted for the submitted for the Paraprofessional Portfolio Paraprofessional Portfolio Assessment is based on the Assessment is based on the guidelines provided by the guidelines provided by the Michigan Department of Michigan Department of EducationEducation

29

The District Review Committee The District Review Committee recommends the recommends the paraprofessional as ESEA/NCLB paraprofessional as ESEA/NCLB qualified based on the qualified based on the completion of the portfolio andcompletion of the portfolio and

30

Successful completion of the Successful completion of the portfolio is based on the portfolio is based on the accumulation of accumulation of 60 Portfolio 60 Portfolio PointsPoints as documented by the as documented by the submission of the Portfolio submission of the Portfolio Summary Summary (Form F, as shown (Form F, as shown on page 27). on page 27).

31

Confirmation of completion of Confirmation of completion of the Paraprofessional Portfolio the Paraprofessional Portfolio Assessment is documented by Assessment is documented by the Paraprofessional Portfolio the Paraprofessional Portfolio Final Recommendation Final Recommendation (Form J) (Form J) signed by the superintendent or signed by the superintendent or designee of the employing designee of the employing district.district.

32

33

34