H.F. 378 Summary

• Requires school districts to provide paraprofessionals who work with students with disabilities a minimum of 16 hours of paid orientation or professional development annually, with 8 hours completed before the first instructional day or within 30 days of hire.

• Mandates that paraprofessionals receive paid time or school day time to review a student's individualized education program or receive briefing on specific student needs before working alone with an individual student with a disability.

• Requires at least 50 percent of professional development for paraprofessionals providing direct student support to be dedicated to meeting disability-specific and behavioral needs requirements.

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

• Appropriates funds from the general fund to the commissioner of education for fiscal years 2022 and 2023 to compensate paraprofessionals for paid orientation and professional development (specific dollar amounts left blank).