|
The term “ESEA Qualified” may be added to the educational aide permit for individuals who have successfully completed either the examination for paraprofessionals prescribed by the State Board of Education; or an associate degree (or higher) from an accredited institution of higher education; or at least two years of study at an accredited institution of higher education (defined as 48 semester hours or 72 quarter hours).
“ESEA Qualified” means that a paraprofessional has established that they meet the federal No Child Left Behind (NCLB) definition of a Qualified Instructional Paraprofessional. ESEA refers to the Elementary and Secondary Education Act, which is another name for the NCLB federal law. Instructional paraprofessionals or aides are required to meet the federal definition of a Qualified Instructional Paraprofessional only if they have instructional duties in a school building that receives Title I funding. However, any person who holds an educational aide permit may apply to add this designation to their permit if the qualify to do so, regardless of their specific assignment.
If you have successfully completed either the Para Pro examination, an associate degree or higher from an accredited institution, or a minimum of 48 semester hours (72 quarter hours) from an accredited institution, and would like to add the “ESEA Qualified” designation to your educational aide permit, then please click here to print and complete the appropriate application form.
Please mail the application form to the address indicated on the form. Include the $20.00 fee (check or money order) payable to “Treasurer, State of Ohio." If you are adding the designation based upon completion of college coursework, please include official transcripts (no photocopies) along with your application form. If you have successfully completed the Para Pro examination, then your score needs to be reported directly to ODE by ETS (our reporting code is 7945).
Please note that paper score reports may not be utilized.
Also, please note that it is not necessary to actually add the “ESEA Qualified” designation to an educational aide permit for a paraprofessional to be considered a Qualified Instructional Paraprofessional pursuant to federal law. If a paraprofessional qualifies for this designation based on having fulfilled one of the requirements described in the first paragraph above, they would be considered a Qualified Instructional Paraprofessional regardless of whether they actually had this designation added to their permit or not. Adding the designation to a permit is just a convenient method to demonstrate that a paraprofessional has earned this distinction.
|