In the general education classroom today you will find more and more special education students, however, general education teachers and paraeducators are not properly trained on how to serve and teach special education students. This is a major issue here in Texas. Two bills, HB 116 and SB 293, were proposed in the last legislative session to address the need for improved training and staff development for primary and secondary teachers to enable them to more effectively serve all students. Unfortunately, these bills were not signed into law and as the article below explains many teachers and paraeducators are not prepared for students with IEPS. In addition, paraeducators in the state of Texas are not required to obtain continuing professional education hours to renew their educational aide certificates every five years like professional employees of districts such as superintendents, principals, and teachers. If more and more special education students are going to be educated in inclusive settings then all teachers and paraeducators must be properly trained on how to serve and teach them.
Survey Finds Teachers, Paraeducators Largely Unprepared For Students With IEPs