Paraprofessionals working in special education, and Title I are being held to higher standards than ever before. To meet these requirements, the Berks County Intermediate Unit offers comprehensive training for newly hired Paraprofessionals as well as Paraprofessionals who have been in the field for a while.
The Paraprofessional Academy is a six-day intensive learning experience for newly hired paraprofessionals to meet the highly qualified requirements of IDEA and Pennsylvania’s Chapter 14 regulations.
This is six-day series that will prepare paraprofessionals to meet the rigorous federal and state standards and the Pennsylvania Paraeducator credential. Once the six days have been completed in their entirety, individual assessments are complete, and supervisory approval has been given, the paraprofessional will be able to apply for the PA Paraeducator credential. Participants must attend all six sessions to meet the requirements. Registration can be accessed here: https://bit.ly/para_academy
The BCIU provides many live training events focused on knowledge and skills important for paraprofessionals. Example content includes behavior, autism, executive functioning, secondary transition, literacy, and low incidence supports. Training hours are awarded following participation. The live training events can be accessed through Frontline registration can be accessed here.
A series of 1-hour asynchronous sessions are offered in the following content areas: behavior, trauma, secondary transition, Rett Syndrome, accommodations, and modifications, reading decoding, building vocabulary, self-regulation, etc. One training hour is awarded following completion of the session. The 1-hour sessions can be accessed here.