H.F. No. 1560 Summary

• Requires school districts to provide paraprofessionals with paid time to review a student's individualized education program and collaborate with teachers before beginning work with individual students with disabilities.

• Mandates a minimum of 16 hours of paid orientation or professional development annually for all paraprofessionals, Title I aides, and instructional support staff before the first instructional day, with at least 50 percent dedicated to disability-specific and behavioral support requirements.

• Requires annual training opportunities for paraprofessionals to develop knowledge and skills specific to students' disabilities, individual needs, and how disabilities affect education and behavior.

• Appropriates funding from the general fund to the commissioner of education for fiscal years 2020 and 2021 to cover costs of paid orientation and professional development for paraprofessionals (specific dollar amounts left blank).

• Requires school administrators to provide annual certification of compliance with paraprofessional training requirements to the commissioner.