The Training and Support Needs of Paraprofessionals in Rural Special Education

Abstract

Over 1,000 surveys were distributed to randomly selected paraprofessionals, teachers, related service personnel, and administrators throughout three of the most sparsely populated states (North Dakota, South Dakota, and Wyoming) to study the training and support needs of paraprofessionals in rural settings. The need for additional training is apparent since the paraprofessionals surveyed requested assistance in understanding students with disabilities, their roles as paraprofessionals, task analysis procedures, and the Individual Educational Program (IEP) process. Other findings address the quality of supervision, previous training, and other factors which influence paraprofessionals career decisions. Recommendations center on strategies for providing high-quality, cost effective training that also permits paraprofessionals the opportunity to receive certification as a special education teacher.

Get full access to this article

View all access options for this article.

References

Berry,

, & Hare,

R. D.

(1986). The problems and promises of the teacher labor market. Paper presented at the annual meeting of the American Educational Research Association, San Francisco.

Brown,

(1969). The Delphi method. Santa Monica, CA: Rand.

Bogenschild,

, Lauritzen,

, & Metzke,

(1988). A study of teacher attrition. Reston, VA: National Clearinghouse for Professionals in Special Education.

Chapman,

(1984). Teacher retention: The test of a model. American Educational Research Journal, 21, 654-658.

Clearinghouse for Professionals in Special Education, (1989). The decline in special education degrees conferred. Reston, VA.

Frith,

G.H.

, & Mims,

(1985). Burnout among special education paraprofessionals. Teaching Exceptional Children, 17 (3).

Grissmer,

, & Kirby,

(1987). Teacher attrition: The uphill climb to staff the nations schools. Santa Monica, CA: Rand.

Hofmeister,

(1991). Developing state standards for special education paraprofessionals. Exceptional News, 15, 1, 4-5.

Kaplan,

G.R.

(1980). Special needs, special people: The training of paraprofessionals and the education of children with handicaps. New York: City University of New York, Careers Training Lab, Center for Advanced Study in Education, Graduate School.

10.

Kreis,

, & Milstein,

(1985). Satisfying teachers' needs: It's time to get out of the hierarchical need satisfaction trap. (Report No. CIJFEB86) (ERIC Document Reproduction Service No. EJ325227)

11.

Metzke,

L.C.

(1989). A study of the causes of teacher attrition in regular and special education in Wisconsin. Unpublished doctoral dissertation. Marquette University, Milwaukee, Wisconsin.

12.

Morgan,

R.L.

, Gassman,

, Rule,

, & Salzberg,

C. L.

(1991). Paraprofessional training project. Exceptional News., 15, 1-3.

13.

Pickett,

A.L.

(1989). Restructuring the schools: The role of paraprofessionals. Washington, DC: Center for Policy Research, National Governors' Association.

14.

Pickett,

A.L.

(1990). Paraprofessionals in education: The state of the art.. New York: City University of New York, National Resource Center for Paraprofessionals, Center for Advanced Study in Education, Graduate School.

15.

Roth,

R.A.

(1986). Emergency certificates, misassignment of teachers and other dirty little secrets. Phi Delta Kappan, 67, 725-727.

16.

Schofer,

R.C.

, & Duncan,

J. R.

(1986). A study of certain personnel preparation factors in special education. Journal of Special Education, 20, 61-68.

17.

U.S. Department of Education (1988). Tenth annual report to Congress on the implementation of the Education of the Handicapped Act. Washington, DC.

18.

Vasa,

S.F.

, Steckelberg,

A. L.

, & Ronning,

L. V.

(1982). The state of the art: Assessment of paraprofessional use in Nebraska.. Lincoln: University of Nebraska, Department of Special Education and Communicative Disorders.

19.

White,

, Brantlinger,

, & Keough,

(1981). ASSIST: Associate instructional support for teachers. Bloomington: Indiana University, Developmental Training Center, Indiana Department of Public Instruction, Division of Special Education.

20.

Will,

(1986). Educating children with learning problems: A shared responsibility. Exceptional Children., 52, 411-415.

21.

Yoder,

D.E.

, Coleman,

P. P.

, & Gallagher,

J. J.

(1990). Personnel needs-Allied health personnel meeting the demands of Part H. of P. L. 99-457. Chapel Hill: University of North Carolina, Carolina Institute for Child and Family Policy.