POLICY LETTER: April 30, 2002 to Alabama Superintendent of Education Edward R. Richardson

April 30, 2002Honorable Edward R. RichardsonSuperintendent of EducationAlabama Department of EducationGordon Persons Office Building50 North Ripley StreetP.O. Box 302102Montgomery, AL 36130-2101Dear Superintendent. Richardson:The No Child Left Behind Act (NCLB Act) enacted on January8,2002, introduced many changes designed to improve student academic achievement. The Department is developing guidance and regulations for Title I requirements, including teacher and paraprofessional qualifications. As we strive to complete this work as quickly as possible, I want to outline a few key paraprofessional requirements that took effect on January8. There is no time for delay in their implementation.All paraprofessionals hired after January 8 must have (1) completed two years of study at an institution of higher education; (2) obtained an associate's (or higher) degree; or (3) met a rigorous standard of quality and be able to demonstrate, through a formal State or local academic assessment, knowledge of and the ability to assist in instructing reading, writing, and mathematics (or, as appropriate, reading readiness, writing readiness, and mathematics readiness). Paraprofessionals hired before January 8 and working in a program supported with Title I funds must meet these requirements in four years. Our policy is not finalized, but our current thinking isThese requirements apply to Finally, Title I and Title II funds may be used for ongoing training and professional development to help paraprofessionals meet the statutory requirements.We will post regulations and further guidance at HYPERLINK "http://www.ed.gov" www.ed.gov as we develop them.Sincerely,/s/Joseph F. Johnson, Jr.DirectorCompensatory Education Programscc: State Title I Director State Special Education DirectorPAGE 1PAGE 2PAGE 2April 30, 2002Honorable Edward R. RichardsonSuperintendent of EducationAlabama Department of EducationGordon Persons Office Building50 North Ripley StreetP.O. Box 302102Montgomery, AL 36130-2101Dear Superintendent. Richardson:The No Child Left Behind Act (NCLB Act) enacted on January8,2002, introduced many changes designed to improve student academic achievement. The Department is developing guidance and regulations for Title I requirements, including teacher and paraprofessional qualifications. As we strive to complete this work as quickly as possible, I want to outline a few key paraprofessional requirements that took effect on January8. There is no time for delay in their implementation.All paraprofessionals hired after January 8 must have (1) completed two years of study at an institution of higher education; (2) obtained an associate's (or higher) degree; or (3) met a rigorous standard of quality and be able to demonstrate, through a formal State or local academic assessment, knowledge of and the ability to assist in instructing reading, writing, and mathematics (or, as appropriate, reading readiness, writing readiness, and mathematics readiness). Paraprofessionals hired before January 8 and working in a program supported with Title I funds must meet these requirements in four years. Our policy is not finalized, but our current thinking isThese requirements apply to Finally, Title I and Title II funds may be used for ongoing training and professional development to help paraprofessionals meet the statutory requirements.We will post regulations and further guidance at HYPERLINK "http://www.ed.gov" www.ed.gov as we develop them.Sincerely,/s/Joseph F. Johnson, Jr.DirectorCompensatory Education Programscc: State Title I Director State Special Education DirectorPAGE 1PAGE 2PAGE 2