WHAT DOES A PARAPROFESSIONAL DO?

Published: Dec 16, 2025 - The Paraprofessional supports students by implementing IEP goals, reinforcing classroom expectations, and assisting with academic, behavioral, and therapeutic strategies under the direction of licensed educators and service providers. This role involves promoting student safety, independence, and age-appropriate social, communication, and daily living skills while ensuring proper use of adaptive equipment and maintaining required documentation. The individual also collaborates daily with teachers, follows established communication channels, and upholds all mental health, confidentiality, and childcare regulations.

A Review of Professional Skills and Functions for Paraprofessional

1. Paraprofessional Accountabilities

  • Mission Alignment: Uphold and model the school’s mission, vision, and goals in all interactions and responsibilities.
  • IEP Instruction Support: Support the classroom teacher in delivering effective instruction to scholars with an IEP.
  • Individualized Support: Provide targeted assistance to individual scholars with an IEP to strengthen their understanding of lesson content.
  • Small Group Instruction: Facilitate small-group instruction to reinforce skills and concepts introduced by the teacher.
  • Instructional Tools Use: Assist scholars with an IEP in properly using instructional equipment and learning materials.
  • Material Preparation: Prepare, distribute, and collect instructional materials such as worksheets, workbooks, and papers.
  • Learning Supervision: Supervise independent learning activities assigned to scholars with an IEP.
  • Enrichment Support: Support enrichment tasks designed to extend scholars’ learning.
  • Remedial Support: Assist with remedial activities aimed at addressing learning gaps.
  • Progress Monitoring: Monitor scholar engagement and progress during instructional activities.
  • Teacher Communication: Maintain clear communication with the classroom teacher regarding scholar support needs.

2. Paraprofessional Functions

  • Classroom Support: Assist teachers with classroom organization, management, and instructional strategies.
  • Individual Student Support: Work individually with assigned students to ensure that each student benefits from the assignment or task.
  • Educational Technology: Use learning tools, including computer-based training.
  • Instructional Preparation: Assist teachers with the preparation of boards and wall materials related to daily lesson plans.
  • Assignment Grading: Grade tests and student assignments.
  • Material Reproduction: Make copies and print materials for classes.
  • Student Transitions: Assist administrators and other staff members in the orderly, efficient, and safe transition of students from the classroom to the bus area.
  • Volunteer Training: Assist with training volunteers.
  • Computer Assistance: Assist students with computer use.

3. Paraprofessional Overview

  • Student Support: Provide behavioral, academic, social, and emotional support for a student.
  • Relationship Building: Build a strong relationship with the student using positive support techniques.
  • Behavior De-escalation: Verbally de-escalate the student when the student engages in verbal and/or physically aggressive behaviors.
  • Instructional Strategies: Assist classroom teachers in devising special strategies for reinforcing learning materials and skills based on an understanding of the individual student’s needs, interests, and abilities.
  • Small Group Support: Work with individual students or small groups of students to reinforce learning of materials or skills initially introduced by classroom teachers.
  • Routine Guidance: Guide and assist students with class routines and transitions between activities.
  • Student Supervision: Perform assigned supervision of students during lunch periods, recess, field trips, and all non-instructional times.
  • Behavior Plan Implementation: Implement the student’s behavior intervention plan and track progress accordingly.
  • Family Communication: Maintain consistent contact with the student’s family and provide regular updates on student progress.
  • Staff Collaboration: Collaborate with both general education and special education teachers.

4. Paraprofessional Details and Accountabilities

  • Student Accountability: Assume personal responsibility for the academic and social-emotional progress of all students.
  • Student Guidance: Provide a positive and nurturing guide for students and attend to their physical, personal, academic, and emotional needs.
  • Collaborative Teaching: Work collaboratively to enhance student learning, growth, and achievement.
  • Diversity Engagement: Work with a diverse staff and student body.
  • Positive School Culture: Sustain a school-wide culture of respect and actively use the school’s behavior system.
  • Student Advising: Serve as an Advisor to a small group of students.
  • Family Communication: Communicate with students’ families regularly.
  • Feedback Receptiveness: Solicit and welcome critical feedback.
  • Professional Development: Participate in various forms of professional development as scheduled for all faculty.

5. Paraprofessional Tasks

  • Instructional Support: Support the implementation of academic instructional programs, classroom activities, and student assessments.
  • Classwork Assistance: Assist students in completing assigned classwork in alignment with instructional goals.
  • Daily Interaction: Interact daily with students and staff to support attendance tracking and program documentation.
  • Data Reporting: Accurately record and report student participation and program data.
  • Classroom Management: Maintain a positive and structured classroom environment that supports learning.
  • Behavior Monitoring: Monitor student behavior and redirect students to remain engaged and on task.
  • Computer Supervision: Supervise student use of computers to ensure appropriate and effective usage.
  • Material Organization: Maintain instructional materials to ensure they are organized and ready for student use.
  • Lab Equipment Support: Support the upkeep and basic functionality of computer lab equipment.
  • Confidentiality Compliance: Maintain strict confidentiality regarding staff, students, and families at all times.

6. Paraprofessional Roles

  • G&T Program Support: Assist Gifted and Talented Consulting Teachers to facilitate the provision of acceleration, enrichment, and guidance to G&T students across grade levels.
  • Student Data Management: Gather and organize data on all students for the annual screening and identification process.
  • Stakeholder Communication: Share information and resources with administrators, parents, teachers, students, and the community.
  • Project Facilitation: Assist students with independent and small-group projects related to special interests and opportunities.
  • Learning Plan Coordination: Meet with students, families, administrators, and teachers to facilitate and monitor learning plans.
  • Resource Coordination: Work with school staff to coordinate appropriate school and community resources.
  • Progress Documentation: Maintain detailed and accurate records regarding each student’s learning goals and progress.
  • Screening Support: Assist with gathering and organizing student data for the annual screening and identification process.
  • Relationship Building: Strive consistently to build and strengthen positive relationships among students, schools, families, and the community.

7. Paraprofessional Additional Details

  • Special Needs Support: Implement plans for children with special needs under the direct supervision of the teacher.
  • Specialized Training: Attend special needs training sessions.
  • Instructional Modifications: With appropriate training, make daily modifications for individuals with teacher approval.
  • Objective Monitoring: Assist teachers with monitoring and scoring objectives for the individual children they support.
  • Progress Reporting: Report results and observations of children completing individualized activities.
  • Daily Progress Updates: Contribute to objectives by providing daily updates on student progress.
  • Individualized Instruction: Implement lessons to meet the individual objectives of the children supported.
  • Follow-Up Instruction: Provide follow-up instruction to small groups and individuals with special needs.
  • Material Preparation: Prepare materials for children working individually.
  • Behavioral Strategies: Implement positive behavioral strategies using consistent techniques aligned with other teachers.
  • Strategy Collaboration: Assist the teacher in ensuring appropriate strategies are used based on daily contact with the child.
  • Student Transitions: Take children to the bus and retrieve children from the bus.

8. Paraprofessional Essential Functions

  • IEP Knowledge: Understand the purpose of the IEP and how it governs the student’s school program and schedule.
  • IEP Implementation: Understand classroom student IEP goals and assume responsibility for implementing the student’s goals under the direction of the classroom teacher or related service provider.
  • Instructional Support: Follow the task steps of the instructional program under the direction of the classroom teacher or related service provider.
  • Classroom Guidance: Help the student follow classroom directions and rules.
  • Social Development: Help students consistently use age-appropriate social and play behaviors across various settings and activities under the direction of the classroom teacher.
  • Daily Communication: Share information with the classroom teacher daily and prepare required documentation.
  • Communication Protocols: Follow proper communication channels within the educational environment, consulting first with the teacher, then administration or an education support coordinator.
  • Independent Living Skills: Guide the student toward maximum independence in daily living skills, including eating, dressing, toileting, and communication.
  • Student Care: Assist youth in maintaining a well-groomed appearance and a safe environment.
  • Social Skills Training: Teach students how to greet, play, share, take turns, and follow the rules of simple games.
  • Therapy Collaboration: Understand and implement student strategies under the direction of occupational, physical, speech, or behavior therapists.
  • Adaptive Equipment: Ensure adaptive equipment and necessary supplies are available for the student at all times.
  • Data Entry: Complete timely data entry for program goals, behavioral health, and nursing documentation.
  • Student Supervision: Maintain close proximity and visual supervision of the student at all times to ensure safety.
  • Regulatory Compliance: Ensure compliance with student rights and program delivery requirements under applicable mental health, confidentiality, and child care regulations.