Validated paraprofessional skills count toward a federal school qualification

A paraprofessional who demonstrates the listed skills must be treated as meeting a specified federal qualification when the employer validates those skills. This applies to paraprofessionals employed by a school district or charter school and satisfies a requirement under the federal rule cited in paragraph (b). The paraprofessional must demonstrate the competencies listed in paragraph (a), clause (3). The employing district or charter school must validate the demonstration. This section took effect May 20, 2026.

The Department of Education must give district and charter school leaders guidance on possible ways to validate the competencies. The guidance is for school district and charter school leaders. The department may update the guidance as needed. The department had to provide the guidance by August 1, 2026.

The employing district or charter school must keep the completed assessment and proof of demonstrated skills in the paraprofessional’s personnel file and make the records available to reviewers on request. This applies when a paraprofessional demonstrates the competencies listed in paragraph (a), clause (3), and the employer is a school district or charter school. The records must be made available to Department of Education and federal reviewers upon request. This section took effect May 20, 2026.