The purpose of this qualitative collective case study was to explore current paraprofessional training programs offered to support paraprofessionals working with students with disabilities (SWDs), including both pre-service and in-service training. Specifically, this study evaluated training offered by local school districts within Southern…

Many of the decisions made related to student progress and intervention selection rely on data. In their roles, paraeducators often implement academic interventions; therefore, they must be prepared to monitor students' progress accurately and reliably. This pilot randomized control trial tested the effects of a remote training package on…

Video prompting (VP) is an evidence-based practice, but few studies have included teachers and paraeducators as implementers. We adopted one of the single-case designs (multiple probe design) to evaluate the effectiveness of teacher and paraeducator-implemented VP on vocational skills for four high school students with significant intellectual and…

The Grow Your Own Teacher (GYOT) program addresses the shortage of qualified teachers by recruiting and training community residents to become qualified teachers. These programs look and feel like community-building strategies instead of teacher pipeline strategies. The GYOT initiative is not new, but the mainstream absorption of the GYOT…

The number of students with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) in PreK-12 schools has increased over time. However, paraeducators supporting students with ASD typically receive limited training and are unprepared for their roles. As part of a larger survey study, we conducted a content analysis of responses by paraeducators in one U.S. state across…

Purpose: School-based telefacilitators are critical yet underresearched members of telepractice programs. They are the face of the telepractice program and are often telepractice champions in their communities. However, we have little research explaining the typical profile of telefacilitators, making it more difficult to identify personnel…

Paraeducators frequently support children who use augmentative and alternative communication (AAC) but often lack access to effective training opportunities. Similarly, special education teachers are responsible for supervising paraeducators but often lack effective training on AAC and paraeducator supervision. The POWR+ (Prepare the activity and…

Paraeducators are often utilized in physical education environments to assist instructors as well as students with disabilities; however, there is little research on the utilization of these professionals within this setting. This study explored paraeducators' perceived roles and competencies in physical education from the perspectives of both…

Background: Autistic youth primarily receive services in public schools from educators who persistently report variable training and use of evidenced-based practices (EBPs). Educational achievement of individualized goals may be hindered by inconsistent implementation of EBPs. Objective: To better understand EBP training practices, this study…

Consistency, predictability, and structure have been identified as key components of recommended supports for students with Emotional and Behavioral Disorders (EBD). This study describes an intervention implemented during behavioral school consultation aimed at increasing consistency in the use of classroom practices by teacher and…

Paraeducators are an important member of the educational team for many students with disabilities. However, the perspectives of team members (principals, teachers, paraeducators) related to paraeducator supports and team roles has not been adequately explored in the literature. An online questionnaire was used within this study to examine the…

Introduction: Interveners are paraeducators who have been trained in deafblind strategies. This study evaluated the effectiveness of an online training project for intervener candidates. Methods: The training project utilized the Open Hands, Open Access (OHOA) Intervener Training Modules in conjunction with synchronous meetings and coaching.…

The purpose of this dissertation was to discover the lived experiences and perceptions of administrators, physical educators, and physical education paraeducators (PEPs) in Alabama regarding the hiring, training, responsibilities, and roles of PEPs within physical education and the school as a whole. Role Socialization Theory (RST) was used as a…

Current methods to address the shortage of certified orientation and mobility specialists have either not been successful or have not kept up with the needs of students with visual impairments. This study explored the potential of an alternative method of addressing the shortage and gaps in education that it causes: training paraprofessionals to…

There is a research-to-practice gap in the identification and use of evidence-based practices in special education. One way to better understand the persistent gap between research and practice and to inform professional development efforts is through gaining an understanding of teacher and paraprofessional perceptions. We conducted a survey study…