Paraprofessionals and No Child Left Behind

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In addition to requiring a highly qualified teacher in every classroom, No Child Left Behind requires that teachers aides and other paraprofessionals meet certain standards. In order to receive Federal Title I money, paraprofessionals need a certain level of training a level that many currently don t have. While most paraprofessionals do meet the new Federal requirements going into effect this year, school districts are struggling to come up with both the money and the means to re-train those still in need of remediation. In Fairfax County, Virginia, for instance, the district is offering online tutorials, class sessions, and summer courses, all in preparation for the state test which teachers aides tend to prefer to the associates degree or 48 college credits otherwise required.