Those who were around for the incarnation of NCLB will recall that some who lobbied for the law's paraprofessional standards seemed more interested in pushing paraprofessionals out of the classroom than in helping them do their jobs better.  Their "logic" was something like, "Title I is not an employment program."  But the AFT had long-recognized the need for standards, and we seized the opportunity to use them to negotiate for long-needed professional development for paraprofessionals that would make their classroom assistance more effective.

To that end, the AFT developed Meeting the Standards for Paraprofessionals (MSP): A Research Based Approach, adapted from AFT’s Educational Research & Dissemination (ER&D) program. Working with our affiliates, we have helped over 1,200 paraprofessionals meet the NCLB requirements. 

And, based on the feedback we have received, paraprofessionals who participated in the MSP program report feeling more prepared to do their jobs well and feel they will be of greater assistance to teachers and students in the classroom.  Let's hope that states and districts don't just see getting paraprofessionals qualified as a box to be checked, but instead understand the benefits of high-quality professional development for paraprofessionals to students and schools.