Ed Flex Survey

On January 8, 2002, President Bush signed into law the No Child Left Behind Act (NCLB). The law establishes new requirements for paraprofessionals in classrooms. Any instructional paraprofessional employed after January 8, 2002, must either have completed two years of college, hold a two-year degree, or pass a state or local assessment. Under the Every Student Succeeds Act (ESSA), paraprofessionals must continue to meet the federal standards used under NCLB. · What is the ED-Flex Waiver 2? · LEAs may utilize the more flexible IDOE defined paraprofessional requirements for highly-qualified rather than the current federal requirements. ○ ESSA allows Indiana to set its own licensure and quality requirements for certified staff but maintains federal requirements for paraprofessionals. ○ Federal rules do not allow for additional options that can demonstrate paraprofessionals’ quality ○ The waiver will ease the paraprofessional shortage while not reducing quality · Why Gary Community Schools is applying for the waiver? · The Gary Community School Corporation is committed to providing our students with highly qualified staff who can support and enhance their educational experience. To this end, we are in the process of applying for the Ed-Flex Waiver 2, which would provide increased flexibility in hiring paraprofessionals by adapting some requirements to align with the unique needs of our district. · Currently, paraprofessionals are required to have completed 48 college credits and pass the Para Pro Assessment. However, we have encountered significant challenges in finding candidates who meet these specific criteria. By applying for the Ed-Flex Waiver 2, our district aims to address this shortage and broaden our hiring options, enabling us to consider individuals who meet alternative criteria approved by the Indiana Department of Education (IDOE). · The approval of this waiver would allow us to recruit qualified individuals who are dedicated to supporting our students, even if they may not meet the existing college credit requirement, provided they fulfill the IDOE-approved criteria. We appreciate the community’s support as we strive to fill these vital roles and ensure that our students continue to receive the highest level of support in the classroom.