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Describes federal pathways, explains how states determine acceptable assessments, and provides background on current use of ETS ParaPro and its retirement in August 2026. Recommends SBOE approval of ETS ParaPathways and Pearson National Evaluation Series exams to broaden assessment options and enable portability of results.",{"@graph":69,"@context":122},[70,84,105],{"@type":71,"itemListElement":72},"BreadcrumbList",[73,77,79,82],{"item":74,"name":75,"@type":76,"position":8},"https://docshare.wps.com","Home","ListItem",{"item":78,"name":9,"@type":76,"position":14},"https://docshare.wps.com/document/",{"item":80,"name":20,"@type":76,"position":81},"https://docshare.wps.com/document/exam/",3,{"item":83,"name":65,"@type":76,"position":19},"https://docshare.wps.com/document/paraprofessional-assessment-policy-for-title-i-schools-adoption-of-parapathways-and-pearson-exams/442602/",{"url":83,"name":65,"@type":85,"image":86,"author":91,"headline":65,"publisher":94,"fileFormat":97,"inLanguage":63,"description":67,"dateModified":98,"datePublished":99,"encodingFormat":97,"isAccessibleForFree":100,"interactionStatistic":101},"DigitalDocument",{"url":87,"@type":88,"width":89,"height":90},"https://docshare.wps.com/thumbnails/paraprofessional-assessment-policy-for-title-i-schools-adoption-of-parapathways-and-pearson-exams/442602.png","ImageObject",300,407,{"name":92,"@type":93},"pop out","Person",{"url":74,"name":95,"@type":96},"DocShare","Organization","application/pdf","2026-09-30","2026-09-29",true,{"@type":102,"interactionType":103,"userInteractionCount":8},"InteractionCounter",{"@type":104},"ViewAction",{"@type":106,"mainEntity":107},"FAQPage",[108,114,118],{"name":109,"@type":110,"acceptedAnswer":111},"What federal qualification pathways apply to paraprofessionals in Title I schools?","Question",{"text":112,"@type":113},"Paraprofessionals must complete at least two years of higher education (or 48 credit hours), obtain an associate’s (or higher) degree, or achieve a passing score on an approved paraprofessional exam while holding a high school diploma or GED.","Answer",{"name":115,"@type":110,"acceptedAnswer":116},"What is changing with ETS ParaPro and what exams replace it?",{"text":117,"@type":113},"ETS is retiring the ParaPro assessment in August 2026. The policy recommends adoption of the regenerated ETS paraprofessional exam ParaPathways, plus Pearson National Evaluation Series exams.",{"name":119,"@type":110,"acceptedAnswer":120},"How does ParaPathways structure its assessments?",{"text":121,"@type":113},"ParaPathways is split into two subtests: Reading & Writing and Mathematics. Reading & Writing applies Science of Reading principles, while Mathematics increases emphasis on data analysis and comprehension.","https://schema.org",{"og:url":83,"og:type":124,"og:title":65,"og:site_name":95,"og:description":67},"article",{"robots":126,"canonical":83},"index,follow",{"doc_id":128,"site_id":62},442602,1790740269,{"code":4,"msg":5,"data":131},{"doc_id":128,"user_id":132,"nickname":92,"user_avatar":133,"doc_module":4,"category_id":19,"category_name":20,"doc_title":65,"doc_description":67,"doc_content":134,"file_id":135,"file_url":136,"file_type":137,"file_size":138,"view_count":8,"is_deleted":4,"is_public":8,"is_downloadable":8,"audit_status":8,"page_count":39,"language":139,"language_code":63,"site_id":62,"html_lang":63,"table_of_contents":140,"faqs":141,"seo_title":142,"seo_description":67,"update_tm":143,"read_time":46},962090760408,"https://ap-avatar.wpscdn.com/davatar_085a072bc5b1113ac321206ff7593b45","| TO:\u003Cbr>FROM: | Members of the State Board of Education\u003Cbr>Carey M. Wright, Ed. D., State Superintendent of Schools | |\n| --- | --- | --- |\n| DATE: | February 24, 2026 |  |\n| SUBJECT: | Paraprofessional Assessment Policy |  |\n| STRATEGIC PLAN ALIGNMENT:\u003Cbr>Pillar 2: High-Quality and Diverse Teachers and Leaders\u003Cbr>Goal: Every school has high-quality and diverse teachers and leaders.\u003Cbr>Outcome: N/A |  |  |\n\nPurpose  \nThe purpose of this item is to establish a paraprofessional assessment policy for paraprofessionals working in Title I schools. Additionally, this item seeks approval from the State Board of Education (SBOE) to adopt theregenerated Educational Testing Service (ETS) paraprofessional exam, ParaPathways, and the Pearson National Evaluation Series paraprofessional exams, Foundations of Classroom Support and Foundations of Classroom Support and Instruction.  \nBackground  \nUnder the Every Student Succeeds Act Section 1112(c)(6), paraprofessionals working in a Title I program (Schoolwide or Targeted Assistance) must meet Maryland requirements. The federal requirements for paraprofessionals working in a Title I program are:  \n• Complete at least two years of study at an institution of higher education, or the equivalent of 48 credit hours; or  \n• Obtain an associate’s (or higher) degree; or  \n• Obtain a passing score on a paraprofessional exam and hold a high school diploma or GED.  \nIt is the state education agency’s responsibility to determine what assessment(s) may be used to meet the federal requirements. Those individuals who have at least the equivalent of 48 hours of credit or have an associate’s (or higher) degree are not required to take an assessment to work in a Title I school.  \nParaprofessionals working in non-Title I schools do not need to meet the federal requirements.  \nIn 2003, the SBOE approved the use of the ETS ParaPro assessment for this purpose. Since that time, additional paraprofessional exams have been published both by ETS and Pearson Evaluation Services. ETS is retiring the ParaPro in August 2026, and it will no longer be available for test takers.  \nExecutive Summary  \nThe regenerated paraprofessional exam from ETS, ParaPathways, has been split into two subtests: Reading & Writing and Mathematics. The Reading & Writing subtest adopts Science of Reading principles and eliminates outdated pre-reading strategies such as skimming. The Mathematics subtest adds more emphasis on data analysis and comprehension.  \nThe ParaPathways assessments are built on established ETS research and psychometric standards. With any new assessment launch, ETS monitors score results and will share outcomes once test-taker volume increases. Twenty-one states have adopted ParaPathways.  \nThe Pearson National Evaluation Series offers two paraprofessional exams: Foundations of Classroom Support and Foundations of Classroom Support & Instruction. The exams were first introduced in the fall of 2025. Five states have either adopted or approved one or both of the assessments. As a result of the newness of the assessments, pass rates are unavailable due to limited volumes.  \nThe Foundations of Classroom Support and Foundations of Classroom Support and Instruction exams from Pearson include Literacy, Language Arts, and Numeracy domains. Additionally, the Foundations of Classroom Support and Instruction exam includes a domain on Instructional Support.  \nThe Maryland State Department of Education (MSDE) is recommending that the SBOE approve the use of all three national paraprofessional exams for paraprofessionals working in Title I schools. This will allow test takers the flexibility to choose the assessment that works best for them, as well as ensure that those individuals who took an assessment in another state are able to use those results to become employed in Maryland Title I schools.  \nSupport for Test Takers  \nETS offers multiple resources for test takers. These include a study companion, a free study plan template, a paid","cbCaikIenPnRg7sc","https://ap.wps.com/l/cbCaikIenPnRg7sc","pdf",313323,"English","# Purpose\n# Background\n# Executive Summary\n# Support for Test Takers\n# Action\n# Attachments","[{\"question\":\"What federal qualification pathways apply to paraprofessionals in Title I schools?\",\"answer\":\"Paraprofessionals must complete at least two years of higher education (or 48 credit hours), obtain an associate’s (or higher) degree, or achieve a passing score on an approved paraprofessional exam while holding a high school diploma or GED.\"},{\"question\":\"What is changing with ETS ParaPro and what exams replace it?\",\"answer\":\"ETS is retiring the ParaPro assessment in August 2026. The policy recommends adoption of the regenerated ETS paraprofessional exam ParaPathways, plus Pearson National Evaluation Series exams.\"},{\"question\":\"How does ParaPathways structure its assessments?\",\"answer\":\"ParaPathways is split into two subtests: Reading \\u0026 Writing and Mathematics. Reading \\u0026 Writing applies Science of Reading principles, while Mathematics increases emphasis on data analysis and comprehension.\"}]","Paraprofessional Assessment Policy for Title I Schools - Adoption of ParaPathways and Pearson Exams | PDF",1790700938]