The Role of Paraprofessionals in the Schools: A National Study.

By means of a nationwide survey, this study of teacher aides sought to determine (1) their legal status in the classroom and (2) the distinction between teaching or instruction and non-teaching functions. A questionnaire was sent to the chief state school officer of the 50 states, asking for information on (1) state laws regulating teacher aide duties, (2) policy statements defining and delimiting their duties, and (3) their role and function as perceived by the state education department, whether or not there were laws concerning them. All 50 states replied. Ten states have laws governing teacher aide employment and functions; 11 have policies or guidelines; 29 have neither statutes nor guidelines, although seven of these are developing regulations of some sort. Extreme ranges of interpretation were found between teaching and non-teaching tasks, rather than clear distinctions. Nevada, for example, requires each local board to establish its own policies on teacher aide duties. California, on the other hand, has its Instructional Aide Act of 1968. The law specifies that aides may perform tasks that, "in the judgment of the certified personnel to whom the instructional aide is assigned, may be performed by a person not licensed as a teacher." Although the use of teacher aides is nationwide, the study found not discernible direction or trend in the definition of their role or functions. (HH)