No Educator Left Behind is a series providing answers from the U.S. Department of Education to questions about the federal No Child Left Behind Act and how it will affect educators. If you have a question about No Child Left Behind, send an e-mail to Ellen Delisio, and we will submit your question to the Department of Education.

QUESTION:

How does the No Child Left Behind Act affect the media paraprofessional?

U.S. DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION:

Paraprofessionals who must meet the requirements of the No Child Left Behind (NCLB) Act are those who are employees of a local educational agency providing instructional support in a program supported with Title I, Part A funds, including those paraprofessionals who provide instructional support in a library or media center. If a paraprofessional has both instructional support and non-instructional duties, they must still meet the requirements. As paraprofessionals provide instructional support, they should not be providing direct planned instruction, or introducing to students to new skills or academic content.

Each state's department of education should be able to outline its requirements for paraprofessionals. Paraprofessionals can meet the requirements of NCLB by demonstrating their knowledge and ability through a formal state or local academic assessment.

Read previous questions and answers in our No Educator Left Behind archive.