Tenure for Teacher's Aides?

Just a quick note to let you know about state bill A420 which "Establishes measures to provide employment stability for teaching paraprofessionals employed in school districts that receive federal funding under Title I of the Elementary and Secondary Education Act."

In other words, lifetime tenure for teacher's aides.

This is a bad thing. If you pay attention to some of the business at our Board of Ed meetings, we are constantly acquiring and un-acquiring aides. That's because the need for aides is driven by students' IEPs. When a particular student classified as special ed requires an aide, we are are required to provide it. And when that student no longer requires an aide, or if the student leaves the district, then we reassign the aide or the aide leaves the district. It's a fluid and changing environment and the district needs to be able to make decisions based on educational needs.

This bill passed the state Assembly (yesterday, I think) by a vote of 70-7-1. It now goes to the Senate Education Committee.

You can contact members of the Education Committee by clicking here. Tell them this is a bad idea.

(I'm still waiting for someone to propose a bill guaranteeing tenure for copywriters. Or accountants. Or fill-in-the-blank-with-whatever-job-you-have.)