Teacher Aide Requirements in Wisconsin

<p>The eligibility requirements for teacher aides in Wisconsin vary by position and school district. Although there is no general standard across the state, there are education guidelines for candidates applying to positions with schools or programs funded by Title I of the Every Student Succeeds Act (ESSA). The table below includes a summary of relevant information for Wisconsin teacher aides. </p> <p /> <table border="1"><tr><td> Education Required </td><td> Minimum high school diploma or equivalent</td></tr> <tr><td> Exam Requirements </td><td> WorkKeys ACT, ETS Parapro-Assessment or ParaEducator Master Teacher for some applicants</td></tr> <tr><td> Average Salary (2018) </td><td> $29,320 (for all Wisconsin teacher assistants)*</td></tr> <tr><td> Estimated Job Growth (2016-2026) </td><td> 8% growth (for all teacher assistants nationwide)*</td></tr> </table><p><i>Source: *U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics </i></p> <h3 id="section---WhatIsTheTitleIProgram">What Is the Title I Program?</h3> <p>The Every Student Succeeds Act (ESSA) Title I program is a federal program for elementary and secondary schools that allocates funding based on the rate of low-income families. Teacher aides working for positions funded by Title I must abide by strict eligibility guidelines outlined in this article. Check job postings or ask your hiring manager if you are unsure if the position you are applying for is governed by these guidelines. For information on available teacher aide positions and their specific requirements, check online job boards or visit the WECAN website. </p> <h3 id="section---WhatAreTheEducationRequirements">What Are the Education Requirements?</h3> <p>The eligibility requirements for Title I positions differ depending on the educational background of a candidate. Those with an associate's, bachelor's or advanced degree are fully eligible for hiring without meeting any additional requirements. Candidates without a degree but at least two years of college credits (equivalent to 48 semester hours) are also eligible for hiring without additional examinations. Those who do not have a sufficient college education must complete one of four separate evaluation pathways outlined in the following sections. </p> <h3 id="section---WhatExaminationsAreAvailableToCandidatesWhoDonTMeetEducationRequirements">What Examinations Are Available to Candidates Who Don't Meet Education Requirements?</h3> <p>There are four separate pathways to eligibility for candidates without 48 hours of college education. The first three involve a standardized test of general education, with a choice of taking one of the following tests: the WorkKeys ACT, the ETS Parapro Assessment or the ParaEducator Master Teacher program. The WorkKeys test is offered by ACT and is divided into three sections: applied mathematics, workplace documents assessment, and business writing assessment. The Educational Testing Service's Parapro-Assessment is two and a half hours long and covers general skills in reading, writing and mathematics. The ParaEducator Master Teacher is an online training program composed of more than 120 courses designed for the teacher aide profession culminating in two separate assessments. </p> <h3 id="section---IsThereAnAdditionalOptionForEligibilityThatDoesNotInvolveAnExamination">Is There an Additional Option for Eligibility That Does Not Involve an Examination?</h3> <p>The fourth eligibility option for candidates without sufficient college education involves the compilation of a teacher aide portfolio. This option is a good alternative for candidates with related work or education experience. The portfolio must contain a variety of materials to demonstrate competencies outlined for the profession and a grasp of general education concepts. A list of competency standards that must be demonstrated in the portfolio materials is available from the Wisconsin Department of Public Instruction website.</p>