Date: September 24, 2021
From: Special Education Department
Subject: Paraprofessional Training Courses
Basic Paraprofessional Course
All special education paraprofessionals that are new to the district (As of the 2021-22 school year) must take the Basic Paraprofessional Course. This course aligns with the Utah State Board of Education Paraprofessional Handbook on the critical understandings for a paraprofessional. It is a 5-hour Canvas course that the paraprofessional should complete off contract time. They may receive payment for up to 5 hours and will have 3 months to complete the course from the date they are invited to the Canvas course. Payment for the course follow verification of course completion.
Advanced Paraprofessional Course
All paraprofessionals that are assigned in a support classroom or special school must take the Advanced Paraprofessional Course. The objectives of this course focus on additional information on behavior, data collection, instruction, and the application of the coursework in their placement. This is a 35-hour course, with 20 hours of coursework on Canvas outside their school day and 15 hours of practical project. The para will get paid an hourly rate for up to 20 hours for the off-contract coursework. They are not eligible for payment for the 15-hour practical project because that time will occur during their contract time. It is anticipated that the completion of this course should take place over an extended period of time, but must be completed within six months of the date of the invitation to the course. Paraprofessionals will receive payment for the course and credit of completion after receipt of their timecard and verification of course completion.
*Paraprofessionals that have completed both courses and have worked for the district for at least one year may be eligible for a lane change from Lane 2 to Lane 3 if they meet the highly qualified requirement. Lane change requests must include the Lane Change form (attached in the Canvas course Completion Module) and a copy Certificate of Completion that the paraprofessional will receive via district mail after verification of course completion. The lane change request and certificate of completion should be emailed to Amanda Hamblin at amanda.hamblin@jordandistrict.org.
Goalview Paraprofessional Training
Secondary clerical paraprofessionals must complete the Basic Canvas course and the Paraprofessional Goalview training course before they are given access to Goalview.
Registration for All Courses
To register for any of the paraprofessional courses, the paraprofessional’s supervising teacher or team lead should email Malynda Tolbert at malynda.tolbert@jordandistrict.org with the paraprofessional’s name, school, assignment (e.g., cluster paraprofessional, resource paraprofessional, clerical paraprofessional), and the course that the paraprofessional should be registered. The paraprofessional will get a Canvas email invitation and an invitation from Malynda within 48 hours of the request. The supervising teacher or team lead will be cc’d on the invitation.
