Paraeducators: How does the IEP Team Decide?

I’ve been in several IEP team meetings lately where the team refuses to consider the need for a paraeducator. It general follows that that teachers are quiet and administrators are participating in the conversation around paraeducators, making the decision for the team. This worries me, as it is not the way a collaborative IEP team should make decisions, in my humble opinion. 

I love Technical Assistance Papers (TAPs). These are guidance on implementing policy, and are ever so helpful to provide clarity and rationality to what can be an emotional situation. The Office of the Superintendent of Public Instruction, OSPI,  provides technical assistance on paraeducators in their Technical Assistance Paper #6.

Decision-Making Model

On page 8 of TAP #6: Paraeducators and Students Eligible to Receive Special Education Services, OSPI recommends a decision-making model that includes:

1. An intensive needs checklist; and
2. A student ability and assistance needs matrix; and
3. A paraeducator plan for assistance and independence.

Who Decides?

A paraeducator is usually listed as a supplementary Aid and Service in an IEP. I have also seen this professional listed in the service matrix. Each of these areas are IEP Team decisions. This is why, in an evaluation report or assessment report, you usually will not find a recommendation for a paraeducator. Instead, the report will say something like, "high needs" or "intensive support" or "hand-over-hand." Parents can use this as evidence of a child's needs for a one-to-one.

How Does the IEP Team Decide?

Honestly, your guess is as good as mine. I truly do not know. I have seen the need for a paraeducator evidenced by a need for assistance with toileting, elopement, aggression and severe disruption to the learning environment. 

OSPI recommends an intensive needs checklist and an ability and needs matrix. I have requested these in an email to OSPI on September 13, 2024, and have not gotten a response. 

I am currently researching other states and districts, to find similar checklists and matrix. If I have to, I will create my own from those and suggest the IEP team use it to make a data-informed and objective decision.

What is Your Experience?

I am really interested to hear how parents and stakeholders have worked in the IEP team to determine the need for a paraeducator. Please consider emailing me your thoughts. My email is [email protected]. If you would like to talk or vent, I have free 30 minute consultations.