The Para to Sub Program is Starting Up Again this Year! Please Help to Make Sure that Administration and Everyone Follows the Rules!
We’re so happy that many of our paraprofessionals were given the opportunity to teach and to earn extra money, but we also want to make sure that teachers are not left without the supports they need and that special education federal/state laws are not being violated in any way that comes back to bite anyone.
That is why we keep pushing the rules that were so carefully vetted through the PFT and the BOE. Every PFT Building Rep has a set in her/his Binder that was distributed at the start of the year, and we have plenty more of those here at the office.
Once again, here are the rules for the Para to Sub Program below.
PARAS—REMEMBER the following about eligibility:
CERTAIN paraprofessionals (only if they are interested and willing) will be eligible to work as substitutes IF they have a degree, and IF it does not leave students and teachers without supports.
Eligible with no restrictions:
EA1s
Student Services Assistants
Eligible only within their own classroom provided students receive appropriatelevels of support (i.e. substitute paraprofessional) and legally-mandated adult-to-student ratios are maintained:
Assistant Teacher
Classroom Assistant
Educational Assistant II
Educational Assistant III
Educational Assistant IV
JROTC Noncommissioned Instructional Assistant
For example …
Special Education paraprofessionals assigned to one classroom like ES rooms, LSS rooms, AS room, or Therapeutic Rooms can only sub IN THEIR OWN CLASSROOM! AND IF there is no teacher sub available and IF they provide a para sub.
Paras, if you have a disagreement with these rules, please give us a call at 412.431.5900—don’t argue with the teacher in your room; he/she had nothing to do with the policies of the program. We can fill you in on every decision that was made because PFT staff was there through all of the intensive negotiations—412-431-5900.
