About the Program

Instructional Aides/Teacher Aides/Paraprofessionals become ParaEducators: Guidelines from the "No Child Left Behind" Act of 2002 reveal that paraprofessionals under the Title 1-A programs must have higher educational certification in the form of: a) 2 years of higher education, or b) an associate's degree, or c) a formal course with a focus on instructing, reading readiness, writing readiness, and mathematics readiness as appropriate. These ParaEducator courses are approved for Continuing Professional Education by the State Board for Educator Certification, provider #500551.

ParaEducator Institutes are held in February (Saturdays only), June (during the work week), and September (Saturdays only).

You must attend all three days (21 hrs), independently completed all requirements, and pass the assessments for the ParaEducator Institute Certificate. If you need modifications or accommodations, please contact ACC's Office for Student Disabilities before class begins at www.austincc.edu/suppport/osd/index.php.

A Professional Development ParaEducator Certificate will be issued to students who do not pass the assessments or for students wanting professional development only, without “highly qualified” status.

EDTC 1094, 100: The ParaEducator Institute Certificate (21 hrs/$210)- SYN 57573

September 10, 17, & 24 HBC 9am-5pm

A ParaEducator Institute Certificate is issued for participants with a high school education/GED who successfully complete the rigorous training needed for school district hiring purposes. Due to the “No Child Left Behind” 2002 legislation, school districts may only hire aides for Title One schools who are “highly qualified.”

• Day 1 covers Working Together Successfully;
• Day 2 covers Learning Styles and the Instructional Process; and
• Day 3 covers Reading, Writing, and Math. Assessments are performance-based and take place throughout the course. 
• Sack lunch requested

EDTC 1094, 101: Special Education ParaEducator Institute (7 hours/$55)-SYN 57574

October 1, HBC 9am-5pm

Provides preparation for special education teacher aides to become "Highly Qualified" covering Special Education topics such as IDEA, FAPE, physically impaired students, crisis intervention, and LRE. Assessments are performance-based and take place throughout the course. Sack lunch requested. These seven hours count as professional development for ParaEducators

Requirements for Success

Do you have a high school diploma or a GED? ____YES ____NO

If you answered NO, you are NOT eligible to take this class. State Law requires all Para Educators to have at the minimum, their school diploma or GED.

If you answered YES, please read further to make sure you have met ALL the minimum qualification Technical Standards:

• Ability to understand and implement directions.
• Ability to effectively communicate with students, faculty and staff.
• Ability to focus in a high distracting environment through multi-task completion.
• Ability to demonstrate a constructive outcome-focused approach in a variety of planned and unplanned situations (or settings).

In addition - Can you

• Speak fluent English? ____YES ____NO
• Read English at a post-high school level? ____YES ____NO
• Write English at a post-high school level? ____YES ____NO

If you answered "NO" to any of the above standards, please understand you may struggle throughout the class and there is a chance you will not be eligible to earn the Para Educator Institute Certificate deeming you "Highly Qualified" to work in the state of Texas as a Para Educator. You will be issued a Professional Development Certificate of completion for the class.

If there is any question about your English skills, please contact the ESL testing center at the Rio Grande Campus to schedule free ESL testing.

• Counselors - 223-3126 Annex 156
• Advisors - 223-3131 Annex 150
• Assessment/Testing Center - 223-3139 Annex 153

Registration Information

Each course is limited to 30-35 total students, so register early. Payment is due at the time of registration.  Please make payment with cash, check, or credit card at any of the ACC Campus Cashier offices within 24 hours after registering for courses.  We currently accept Visa, MasterCard, American Express or Discover.  Payment must be received within 24 hours to avoid being dropped from class.

• Registration Form
• Automated telephone registration:  (512) 407-3087 or toll-free (866) 878-7889. 
• Online registration
• Mail-in payments will be accepted with completed registration form in the form of check or money order.

For more information, contact (512) 223-7649 or tchrcert@austincc.edu.

Additional Resources:

Texas School for the Blind and Visually Impaired

Updated 7/26/11