The utilization of assistant teachers shall be individually determined and shall require a written recommendation by the principal and approval by the Superintendent. The use of assistants will permit teachers more time to devote to instruction, more effective grouping for instructional purposes, and greater individualized attention for meeting pupil needs. Assistants may not have direct responsibility for or supervision of student instruction or activities, but shall be under the supervision of a licensed staff member.

NO CHILD LEFT BEHIND ACT

Teacher assistants are paraprofessionals within the school district.  All paraprofessionals must have earned a high school diploma or its equivalent.  Paraprofessionals hired in the Ocean Springs School District after January 7, 2002, must have completed at least two years of study at an institution of higher education; obtained at least an associate's degree; or met a rigorous standard of quality and can demonstrate through a formal state or local academic assessment the knowledge of and ability to assist in the instruction of reading, writing, or mathematics or the instruction of readiness of these subjects. 

Paraprofessionals in the Ocean Springs School District who were hired before January 8, 2002, have until January 1, 2006, or until any extensions granted by the United States Department of Education expire, to meet these standards.  The district will not hire Title I paraprofessionals who do not meet these standards.  If the district [is/becomes] a school-wide Title I school district, all paraprofessionals in the district must meet these standards.

Exception to these requirements may be made with regard to paraprofessionals who act as translators or who coordinate parent involvement activities.

BASIC OBJECTIVES

Teacher assistants are employed so that the professional teachers may direct their energies to the students' education.  The superintendent and/or staff development committee shall develop an appropriate in-service training program for teacher assistants. The basic objectives for the use of teacher assistants are:

1.    To make it possible for teachers to use more variety in structuring classroom activities which will result in more meaningful education for children and youth.

2.    To enable the teacher to do more creative teaching, and to use a greater variety of instructional media.

3.    To enable the teacher to develop effective programs focusing upon the individual needs

of each student.

4.    To provide increased time for individualizing instruction, evaluating learning situations, student counseling and guidance for other instructional activities that will improve educational opportunities for children.

5.    To relieve teachers of the numerous semi- and non-professional tasks which have become cumulative and which have come to consume a disproportionate amount of the teacher's time and energies.

DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES

Teacher  assistants may be assigned to: (1) provide one-on-one tutoring for eligible students, if the tutoring is scheduled at a time when a student would not otherwise receive instruction from a teacher; (2) assist with classroom management, such as organizing instructional and other materials; (3) provide assistance in a computer laboratory; (4) conduct parental involvement activities; (5) provide support in a library or media center; (6) act as a translator; or (7) provide instructional services to students while working under the direct supervision of a teacher. 

Teacher assistants  may assume limited duties that are assigned to similar personnel who are not working in a program supported with Title I funds, including duties beyond classroom instruction or that do not benefit participating children, so long as the amount of time spent on such duties is the same proportion of total work time as prevails with respect to similar personnel at the same school.

The principal and supervising teacher are jointly responsible for making final decisions related to the duties and responsibilities to be assigned to an assistant.  Assistants are not to discipline children.  Classroom discipline shall be left to the certified teacher or building principal.

The duties of teacher assistants may be further restricted or regulated by program requirements of the funding plan under which they are employed:

1.    Title I funds provide assistants for the Remedial Reading Program.

2.    Title IV-A funds provide assistants for Indian students.

3.    Early Childhood Intervention (ECI) funds provide assistants for mainstreamed students with certain specific handicaps that require frequent or constant attention.

MINIMUM SALARY

In addition to other funds allotted under the Minimum Education or Adequate Education Program, each school district shall be allotted sufficient funding for the purpose of employing assistant teachers.  No assistant teacher shall be paid less than the amount he or she received in the prior school year.  No school district shall receive any funds under this section for any school year during which the aggregate amount of the local contribution to the salaries of assistant teachers by the district shall have been reduced below such amount for the previous year. 

SCHOOL YEAR                          MINIMUM SALARY

2003-2004:                              $10,500.00

2004-2005:                              $11,200.00

2005-2006:                              $12,000.00

In addition, for each one percent (1%) that the Sine Die General Fund Revenue Estimate Growth exceeds five percent (5%) in fiscal years 2003, 2004, 2005, or 2006, as certified by the Legislative Budget Office to the State Board of Education and subject to the specific appropriation therefor by the Legislature, the State Board of Education shall revise the salary scale in the appropriate year to provide an additional one percent (1%) across the board increase in the base salaries for assistant teachers.  The State Board of Education shall revise the salaries prescribed above for assistant teachers to conform to any adjustments made in prior years due to revenue growth over and above five percent (5%).  The assistant teachers shall not be restricted to working only grades for which the funds were allotted, but may be assigned to other classes as provided in this section.

ALTERNATIVE OPTION

As an alternative to employing assistant teachers, any school district may use the allotment provided for the purpose of employing licensed teachers for kindergarten, first, second and third-grade classes; however, no school district shall be authorized to use the funds for assistant teachers for the purpose of employing licensed teachers unless the district has established that the employment of licensed teachers using such funds will reduce the teacher:student ratio in the kindergarten, first, second and third-grade classes. All state funds for assistant teachers shall be applied to reducing teacher:student ratio in Grades K-3.

LEGISLATIVE INTENT

It is the intent of the Legislature that no school district shall dismiss any assistant teacher for the purpose of using the assistant teacher allotment to employ licensed teachers. School districts may rely only upon normal attrition to reduce the number of assistant teachers employed in that district.

Note: For the "Mississippi Elementary Schools Assistant Teacher Program" please see MS Code

' 37-21-7

LEGAL REF.: MS CODE ' 37-21-7; P. L. 107-110 (No Child Left Behind Act of 2001)

ADOPTED:    04/18/2006