Paraeducation
Program

One-year
Certificate

Paraeducator Program

The Paraeducator Program is designed to prepare students for employment in primary and secondary school environments.

Paraeducators are hired to assist certified\licensed staff in a variety of settings, including special education, English as a Second Language, and general education programs, making them vital members of an educational team.

Specific duties of paraeducators...

may include assisting with the instruction of a small group of students, working one-on-one with a special needs student, or supervising students on the playground.

Career Opportunities

Paraeducation careers have been profoundly impacted by national and state legislation. These laws have brought about the need to employ paraeducators in schools across the nation. Career growth is expected to continue through the year 2006. In fact, paraeducator careers are reported to be the sixth fastest growing occupation in the United States.

School districts in the State of Washington employ over 17,000 paraeducators. Of those, 700 are employed in the Benton-Franklin County area.

One-year certificate

The one-year certificate core curriculum emphasizes competencies aligned with those recommended by the State of Washington.

The core curriculum provides students with a solid foundation in education, and helps students define their own educational philosophy.

The general education requirements include course work in the basics to further develop the reading, writing, math, and speaking skills necessary to work successfully with primary and secondary students.

The Paraeducation Program design lends itself to a career ladder approach by encouraging students to first obtain the one-year certificate, then the Columbia Basin College A.A. degree, and finally the bachelor's degree with teacher certification at a four-year institution.

Curriculum listing for the Paraeducation Program.

For more information, please call 547-0511 ext. 2640