PARAPROFESSIONAL EDUCATOR FOUNDATION

The Paraprofessional Educator Foundation Certificate of Specialization provides foundational courses for Paraprofessional Educators who will generally assist teachers in the classroom, supervise students outside of the classroom, or provide administrative support for teaching. Other positions/titles include classroom aides, special education aides, school library technical assistants, and tutors. The next step in the teaching profession after earning this certificate, is to complete the Paraprofessional Educator/Pre-teaching Certificate of Achievement and then Associate's degree that will further prepare students to work as Paraprofessionals in kindergarten through grade 12 (K-12) school settings. If only earning this certificate, students must pair this certificate with the Paraprofessional Examination in order to gain employment as a Paraeducator.

Learning Outcome(s):

1. Discuss teaching strategies and approaches appropriate for students of diverse, needs, abilities and backgrounds.
2. Analyze major developmental milestones for children from conception through adolescence in the areas of cognitive, biosocial, psychosocial and language development using standard research methodologies.
3. Critically assess how educational, political, and socioeconomic factors directly impact the lives of children and families.
4. Critically assess the components of linguistically and culturally relevant, inclusive, age-appropriate, anti-bias approaches in promoting optimum learning and development.
5. Demonstrate a basic understanding of the various responsibilities of a paraeducator and components of the paraprofessional’s role in the general and special education classroom.