Funding Sources
How districts can fund paraeducator attendence at the 11th Annual California Paraeducator Conference
At the state level: Revenue Limit is the base unrestricted funding for all school districts/COE’s and it can be made available for paraeducator conference funding. Districts fund paraeducator attendance through reimbursements for mandates that were originally paid out of unrestricted funds and remaining funds from the 2006-07 unrestricted block grant to districts and school sites. In addition, special education, categorical and/or block grant funds (without restrictions on staff development) can be used to fund paraeducator conference attendance (i.e. School Improvement, Safe Schools Block Grant).
At the federal level: The funding sources include: Title I, II, III, V, and VII. This comes from the federal government in their March 2004 Guidance for Paraprofessionals. (see below)
Under section 1119 of Title I, an LEA must use not less than five percent or more than ten percent of its Title I allocation in school year 2003-2004 (and not less than five percent in subsequent years) for professional development activities to ensure that teachers and paraprofessionals meet the qualification requirements including paying for the paraprofessional assessment. [Section 1119(l) of Title I, §200.60 of the Title I regulations]
- LEAs also may use their general Title I funds “to support ongoing training and professional development to assist teachers and paraprofessionals, including paying for the paraprofessional assessment.” [Section 1114(b)(1)(D) and Section 1115(c)(1)(F) of Title I]
- Schools and LEAs identified as needing improvement must also reserve funds for professional development and these funds may be used for training paraprofessionals. [Sections 1116(b)(3)(A)(iii) and 1116(c)(7)(A)(iii)of Title I]
- Title II, Part A, Improving Teacher Quality State Grants funds may be used to provide professional development that “improve[s] the knowledge of teachers and principals, and, in appropriate cases, paraprofessionals concerning core academic subjects and related activities to improve student academic achievement.” [Section 2123(a)(3)(A)]
- Title III, Part A, the English Language Acquisition, Language Enhancement, and Academic Achievement Act, authorizes LEAs to use formula grant funds for professional development of teachers and other instructional personnel providing instruction to students needing English language acquisition and language enhancement. [Section 3111(a)(2)(A)]
- Title V, Part A, Innovative Programs, authorizes LEAs to use funds innovatively in certain areas for professional development of teachers and other school personnel. [Section 5131(a)]
- Title VII, Part A, subpart 7, the Indian Education Program, requires LEAs receiving formula grants to carry out a comprehensive program for meeting the needs of Indian children that, among other things, may include professional development to ensure that teachers and other school professionals have been properly trained. [Section 7114(b) (5
- Title I and Title II funds may be used jointly for professional development consistent with the statutory requirements of the two programs.
(Note: Title I and Title II funds may be used for professional development to help paraprofessionals become certified and licensed teachers)