Instructional Assistant SPED

Overview

Applicant must be able to pass a background check and be elible for and obtain a NMPED Instructional Assistant License for Title I.

Level 3 EAs or Paraprofessionals who are assigned to work in a title I targeted assistance program or in a title I school-wide program under the act, must hold a level 3 license. Level 3 EAs shall be assigned and serve as assistants to school staff duly licensed by the PED. While there may be brief periods when EAs are alone with and in control of a classroom of students, their primary use shall be to work alongside or under the direct supervision of duly licensed staff.

• A person who seeks a level 3 educational assistant license, shall meet the following requirements:
• hold a high school diploma or equivalency; and
• be eighteen years of age; and
• provide certification from the public school superintendent, state supported school superintendent, charter school administrator, private school official that the educational assistant has satisfactorily completed an orientation session pertinent to the assignment; and
• if the EA holds a level 2 EA license, provide certification from the public school superintendent, state supported school superintendent, charter school administrator, private school official that the educational assistant has satisfactorily demonstrated the PED's educational assistant competencies.
• In addition to satisfying the requirements of Subsection A of 6.63.9.10 NMAC, a person who seeks a level 3 educational assistant license, shall meet the requirements of Paragraph (1) or Paragraph (2) or Paragraph (3) of Subsection B before being hired to work in a title I program:
• earn an associate degree from a nationally or regionally accredited college or university that includes at least 15 semester hours in non-remedial degree coursework, broken down as follows:
• 3 hours of language arts/reading or language arts/reading pedagogy;
• 3 hours of writing or writing pedagogy;
• 3 hours of mathematics or mathematics pedagogy;
• 6 hours of reading, writing, and math readiness, or professional education, or classroom management, or teaching assistance, or special education; or
• complete forty-eight (48) semester hours of academic credit awarded by a nationally or regionally accredited college or university that includes at least 15 semester hours in non-remedial coursework, broken down as follows:
• 3 hours of language arts/reading, or language arts/reading pedagogy;
• 3 hours of writing or writing pedagogy;
• 3 hours of mathematics or mathematics pedagogy;
• 6 hours of reading, writing, and math readiness, or professional education, or classroom management, or teaching assistance, or special education; or
• obtain a passing score of at least seventy (70) percent on a test administered pursuant to Section 11 of 6.63.9 NMAC.

[11-14-98; 6.63.9.10 NMAC - Rn, 6 NMAC 4.2.3.15.10, 03-31-01; N, 06-30-03; A, 06-30-06; A, 10-31-07]