Empowering Paras to Raise Standards

Empowering Paras to Raise Standards

Taking on the Issues, Tackling the Challenges in Our Schools

Union Legal Counsel Susan Nelson Testified to a Legislative Committee on the Need for School Paraprofessionals to Have Access to Family and Medical Leave Protections

Our members working as paraprofessionals, instructional assistants, classroom aides, tutors, and in other support positions in public schools face many challenges on the job. From reaching out to children in larger classrooms, to coordinating instruction for students with special needs, they play a vital role in the educational experience. The issues our members are committed to addressing include:

Gaining a greater voice on the job for paraprofessionals and aides for setting education goals and objectives;
Increasing retention by raising income standards and improving and creating opportunities for access to affordable healthcare for paraeducators;
Informing all paraprofessional workers of the impact of Federal No Child Left Behind (NCLB) Act requirements;
Educating district officials and state legislators of the true nature of the instructional support paraprofessional provide in schools across the state; and
Establishing attainable and consistent education requirements for Connecticut’s paraprofessional workforce.

Members of several of our Paraprofessional Council chapters have demonstrated the value of building community alliances among teachers, parents, and advocates to create powerful change. They have organized rallies and speak-outs at local Board of Education meetings to generate public support for our efforts to close the achievement gap among students -- and the economic gap among paraeduators -- in Connecticut's public schools.

And as opinion-leaders have begun to blame the public education workforce for the economic crisis gripping our state's communities, we are standing-up for the respect and dignity our members deserve.

At the same time, our Union has proposed legislation to the General Assembly that would reverse years of inequity for paras and allow them access to family and medical leave protections. We are mobilizing members to reach out to elected officials and make the case that they deserve the same rights as other school employees.