Paraprofessional Assessment & Training

**Paraprofessional Assessment Now Online! Please contact Kathy Bonogofski while this webpage is under construction.**

The goal of the Professional Development Services (PDS) Program is to address the training needs of Willamette Education Service District (WESD) staff and participating school districts by providing quality professional development opportunities for instructors and their staff.  PDS supports existing staff development at WESD by collaboratively working with outside educational agencies, including Willamette University (WU).  PDS provides local assessments for paraprofessionals who are seeking a certificate to meet the No Child Left Behind (NCLB) Act guidelines for "highly qualified" status, and also provides training in skills needed to pass the Local Academic Paraprofessional Assessment.

One key element of the NCLB Act that took effect on January 08, 2002, is the requirement for "highly qualified" paraprofessionals.  Please note, these requirements apply to paraprofessionals with instructional duties in any program supported by Title I funds.  These requirements also apply to all instructional paraprofessional staff in school-wide Title I programs.  The federal definition of a "highly qualified" paraprofessional is one who has the following:

• Two years of postsecondary study, or
• An Associate's (or higher) degree, or
• A passing score on a state or local academic assessment that measures knowledge of, and the ability, to assist in instructing reading, writing, and mathematics.

The NCLB Act requires all paraprofessionals employed after January 08, 2002, meet one of the definitions above.  Paraprofessionals employed by school districts on, or before, January 08, 2002, must meet one of the definitions by January 2006.

Services Provided

The assessment session will include a one hour preparation training that covers all areas of the assessment, and an overview and review of the math skills needed to successfully complete the assessment.  This training is designed to increase knowledge and reduce anxiety.  To meet the NCLB Act "highly qualified" requirements, the paraprofessional assessment will be administered, scored, and a Local Academic Paraprofessional Assessment Certificate of Completion will be issued when all components are passed.  Assessments are scheduled on a periodic basis during the school year.  

Preparation Guidelines

The assessment is divided into six portions, with each portion being scored separately.  A participant may retake portions of the assessment that previously were not passed.  An individual may retake any portion of the exam for an additional charge.  The Local Academic Paraprofessional Assessment Certificate of Completion will be issued to the individual when all components have received passing scores of 80% or above.  For more information, please review the WESD Preparation Guidelines.

No calculators, computers, cell phones, dictionaries, electronic translators, or other personal means of assistance are allowed.  If specific accommodations are required, such as visual or auditory, please notify the PDS Program as you pre-register, so appropriate arrangements can be prepared.  For more information, please review the WESD General Guidelines and Information.

No portions of the exam are timed.  The approximate time period allotted to complete the entire assessment is three hours.  The questions on the assessment are divided into the following six sections:

• Reading Content:  Thirty Multiple Choice Questions
• Reading Skills of Assistance:  Ten Multiple Choice Questions
• Math Content:  Thirty Multiple Choice Questions
• Math Skills of Assistance:  Ten Multiple Choice Questions
• Writing Skills of Assistance:  Ten Multiple Choice Questions
• Writing Sample:  A One Page Written Essay