The Florida Senate

1012.38  Education paraprofessional career development.--

(1)(a)  Each school district may adopt a program for the career development of education paraprofessionals. The purpose of the program is to provide to education paraprofessionals a system of career development which is based upon education and training advancement, and to furnish economic incentives to encourage excellence among education paraprofessionals.

(b)  The adoption of each program is subject to chapter 447, and the implementation of a program is contingent upon the agreement and ratification of the program by both the employer and employees under s. 447.309

(2)  A district education paraprofessional career development program must include voluntary participation by paraprofessionals in five career development levels. The district school board shall adopt a procedure for verifying the competency levels of all persons who participate in the career development program and a procedure to determine the outcomes and results of the program and impact on student performance.

(3)(a)  Level I.--To qualify for Level I, the person must meet:

1.  The health requirement established for certified personnel.

2.  The age requirements for certified personnel.

3.  The local school district requirements for employment.

(b)  Level II.--To qualify for Level II, the person must:

1.  Have earned a high school diploma or the equivalent.

2.  Possess a clear understanding of state and district rules and policies relevant to paraprofessionals.

3.  Possess knowledge of all state and district instructional practices and policies relevant to paraprofessionals.

4.  Have maintained satisfactory job performance of appropriate skills and competencies for 1 year.

(c)  Level III.--To qualify for Level III, the person must:

1.  Have completed 30 college semester hours or the equivalent inservice hours.

2.  Possess a clear understanding of state and district rules and policies relevant to paraprofessionals.

3.  Possess knowledge of all state and district instructional practices and policies relevant to paraprofessionals.

4.  Have maintained satisfactory job performance of appropriate skills and competencies for 2 years.

(d)  Level IV.--To qualify for Level IV, the person must:

1.  Have completed 60 college semester hours or the equivalent inservice hours.

2.  Possess a clear understanding of state and district rules and policies relevant to paraprofessionals.

3.  Possess knowledge of all state and district instructional practices and policies relevant to paraprofessionals.

4.  Have maintained satisfactory job performance of appropriate skills and competencies for 2 years.

(e)  Level V.--To qualify for Level V, the person must:

1.  Have completed coursework to earn a bachelor of arts or bachelor of science degree from an accredited institution pursuant to s. 1012.56(2)(c).

2.  Possess a clear understanding of state and district rules and policies relevant to paraprofessionals.

3.  Possess knowledge of all state and district instructional practices and policies relevant to paraprofessionals.

4.  Have maintained satisfactory job performance of appropriate skills and competencies for 2 years.

(4)  Paraprofessionals may not:

(a)  Establish instructional objectives;

(b)  Make decisions regarding the relevancy of certain activities or procedures to the attainment of instructional objectives;

(c)  Make decisions regarding the appropriateness of certain teaching materials for accomplishing instructional objectives; or

(d)  Make judgments regarding the attainment of instructional objectives unless these judgments are based upon clear and objective criteria, such as specific achievement standards on a true-false test.

History.--s. 713, ch. 2002-387.