Video & Transcript Research : 'paraprofessional pathway'
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MA
Massachusetts 2025-2026 Regular Session
Joint Committee on Education Jun 21st, 2026 at 11:00 am
Joint Committee on Education
Transcript Highlights:
- schools, such as how Tri-County is doing so now and North Attleborough is doing with innovation pathways
- And while I will always support the need for multiple pathways for our learners, when we rob Peter to
- schools are experiencing third-grade classrooms with 35 students, kindergarten classrooms without paraprofessionals
- Now these bills propose cutting funds for schools that are providing a pathway to freedom for young people
Summary:
The Joint Committee on Education held a lengthy hearing on a large slate of bills focused primarily on charter school policy and vocational technical education. Committee members opened with ground rules for testimony, including a two-minute limit, written testimony acceptance, and a live-streamed format. The committee then heard testimony on bills to expand collective bargaining rights in Horace Mann and Innovation Schools, reform charter school funding and reimbursement, allow enrollment preferences for high-need students in charter lotteries, and require BESE to consider district impacts when approving new or expanded charters. Several witnesses, including union leaders, parents, educators, and legislators, argued that charter growth has strained district budgets and that funding formulas should be reworked to better protect public schools; charter advocates and alumni countered that charter schools serve high-need students well and should not be penalized for their success.
A major portion of the hearing focused on vocational technical education bills, including proposals to expand access and capacity, create a large grant program, and increase MSBA reimbursement rates for vocational school construction. Supporters described long waitlists, strong labor-market demand, and the higher cost of building and maintaining vocational schools, while municipal officials emphasized the tax burden on local communities. The committee also heard testimony on charter school reimbursement bills that would extend the state’s reimbursement schedule, with witnesses from districts such as Boston, Worcester, Fall River, and New Bedford describing large net losses to charter tuition and arguing for longer reimbursement periods and structural reform.
The committee took no final votes during the hearing. In one instance, the chair said a bill would be held open until a missing senator could testify. Members asked several detailed questions about charter admissions lotteries, special education placements, funding formulas, and the practical effects of proposed charter caps and reimbursement changes. The hearing remained informational, with witnesses and committee members presenting sharply different views on whether the bills would improve equity and opportunity or harm existing public school systems.
OK
Transcript Highlights:
- This bill will also establish career pathways for awarding college credits based upon career readiness
- Senate Bill 1432 repeals the sunset date on the Innovative Pathways to Teaching Program and removes all
- references to pilot programming under Innovative Pathways.
- remains the same, including the State Board of Education's responsibility to authorize innovative pathways
- I think their concern is that something in this bill ends up pointing students down a pathway that would
Bills:
SB1632, SB1594, SB2045, SB1251, SB1884, SB1250, SB1630, SB1262, SB1374, SB1292, SB1432, SB1199, SB1790, SB1481, SB1614, SB1734, SB1437, SB1489, SB1718, SB1778
Keywords:
career readiness, education reform, high school assessments, workplace skills, state education, credentialing, teacher certification, principal requirements, education administration, special education, Oklahoma education law, SB2045, Grow Your Own Educator Program, teacher recruitment, teacher retention, alternative certification, alternative teacher certification, teacher preparation, tuition reimbursement, course fee reimbursement
OR
Oregon 2026 Regular Session
Office of Training, Investigations and Safety Investigations Workgroup Jul 15th, 2026 at 10:00 am
Transcript Highlights:
- establish and maintain both general qualifications for personnel and specific qualifications for paraprofessionals
- The specific qualifications provide that paraprofessionals, or educational assistance or instructional
- This federal specific qualification for paraprofessionals requires ODE to establish training and supervision
- This federal specific qualification for paraprofessionals requires ODE to establish training and supervision
MN
Transcript Highlights:
- As paraprofessionals, there are a multitude of duties and positions we may be asked to fill.
- Retaining well-trained paraprofessionals is essential to having schools that work for our children.
- As paraprofessionals, there are a multitude of duties and positions we may be asked to fill.
- Retaining well-trained paraprofessionals is essential to having schools that work for our children.
- Retaining well-trained paraprofessionals is essential to having schools that work for our children.
Keywords:
charter schools, education funding, revenue calculation, general education revenue, special education, school library aid, education finance, school districts, funding eligibility, compensatory revenue, task force, free meals, school funding, education equity, HF2210, school unemployment aid, Minnesota Department of Education, general fund appropriation, unemployment insurance, unemployment claims
TX
Texas 89th Regular
S/C on Academic & Career-Oriented Education Apr 3rd, 2025
S/C on Academic & Career-Oriented Education
Transcript Highlights:
- programs to ensure that high school coursework connects seamlessly to the certificate and degree pathways
- occasionally some support in the first language given if the teacher is able to do so, or if a paraprofessional
Keywords:
bullying, antisemitism, school policies, school discipline, education, education policy, Texas Education Code, hate speech, student rights, civics education, high school curriculum, government, voting process, elected officials, Texas Seal of Biliteracy, biliteracy, bilingual education, multilingual, language proficiency, high school diploma
FL
Florida 2025 Regular Session
Education Pre-K - 12 Feb 4th, 2025
MN
Minnesota 2025-2026 Regular Session
House Floor Session 5/16/25 - Part 2
Minnesota House Floor Meeting
Transcript Highlights:
- And I'm really excited for our schools to be able to open this pathway to them.
- Due to staffing cuts, all our teachers and paraprofessionals were scheduled... important thing.
- than 70% of the paraprofessionals in the district at that time were 59ers.
- of the paraprofessionals in the district of the paraprofessionals in the district at<03:25:07.520
- Unemployment is a huge asset to paraprofessionals.
ND
North Dakota 2026 1st Special Session
Higher Education Institutions Committee Apr 9th, 2026 at 08:30 am
Higher Education Institutions Committee
Transcript Highlights:
- But we've also done work on this for a number of years, this paraprofessional kind of pipeline on special
- The idea is that there's a lot of paraprofessionals who are working in high schools or in school districts
- Well, let's get those paraprofessionals trained up.
- hearing the counselor from Drake Anamos talk about spending two hours with a student about career pathways
- And so if it's a CTE track, what CTE pathway would get you to the next, which college math course did
ND
North Dakota 2025-2026 Regular Session
Higher Education Institutions Committee Apr 9th, 2026
Transcript Highlights:
- But we’ve also done work on this for a number of years, this paraprofessional kind of pipeline on special
- And really the idea is there’s a lot of paraprofessionals who are working in high schools or in school
- Well, let’s get those paraprofessionals trained up.
- hearing the counselor from Drake Anamos talk about spending two hours with a student about career pathways
- And so if it's a CTE track, what CTE pathway would get you to the next?
Summary:
The Higher Education Institutions Committee met on the Minot State University campus for presentations on campus operations, enrollment, and new academic initiatives. President Shirley reviewed recent audits, noting mostly clean results with only minor technical findings, and highlighted MSU’s broad academic offerings, specialized accreditations, athletics, and partnerships with Minot Air Force Base and the MSU Development Foundation. Members asked about declining interest in teacher education, tuition waivers for athletes, dual credit incentives, and how MSU decides when to launch new programs and avoid duplication within the university system.
Shirley also discussed several workforce-focused initiatives supported by the Legislature’s Workforce Education Innovation Funds, including the purchase of the Trinity Health Center West building for a downtown health sciences hub, a new daycare/preschool partnership near campus, the Aspire program to recruit rural students into teaching, and a paraprofessional-to-special-education degree pathway. Enrollment data showed overall headcount was flat at just under 2,750, but full-time equivalent enrollment rose slightly and new student numbers increased, including the largest freshman class in 15 years. The committee also discussed Minot State’s in-state tuition rate for all students, its dual credit “Emerging Scholars” scholarship, and concerns about the share of high school graduates who do not immediately pursue postsecondary education.
Faculty then presented two new programs funded in part by WEAF: an Innovation Engineering degree and a master’s program in counseling with an integrated addiction studies focus. The engineering program was described as industry-driven, designed with broad early coursework, hands-on learning, and local employer input to prepare students for western North Dakota workforce needs; officials said it had already drawn more applicants than expected and would use renovated library space and donated or grant-funded equipment. The counseling program will be mostly face-to-face with hybrid options, aims to address shortages in mental health and substance use providers, and is structured to help students meet licensure requirements. Committee members asked about startup costs, licensure supervision hours, and whether the programs would be on campus rather than online, and presenters said both programs had recently received required approvals and were moving forward.
NH
New Hampshire 2025 Regular Session
House Education Policy and Administration (02/03/2025)
Transcript Highlights:
- Rebecca Fett continued that paraprofessionals are not part of this.
- Rebecca Fett responded that the paraprofessional may be there to reinforce or reteach the skills that
- If the speech pathologist worked on a skill with the student and then oversaw the paraprofessional to
- So it's the conversation about whether paraprofessionals, professionals, teachers, the goals are set
- There were paraprofessionals to vent to or get help from when spiraling.
Summary:
The House Education Policy and Administration Committee heard testimony on HB 222, which would repeal the requirement that a chartered public school and the resident school district sign a memorandum of understanding on how students with disabilities will receive special education services. The prime sponsor, Rep. Peggy Balboni, said the bill was requested by the New Hampshire Association of Special Education Administrators and the New Hampshire Alliance for Public Charter Schools. She argued that federal and state law already require districts to provide FAPE and that the MOU requirement has created extra work, legal costs, and delays without improving services. She said many MOUs remain unsigned, but students are still receiving services and complaint numbers have not changed.
Rep. Mooney also supported repeal, calling the MOU duplicative and impractical because IEPs and 504 plans already govern services. Testimony from Jane B. Brulu of the special education administrators’ association and Beth McLure of the charter schools alliance echoed that view, saying the MOU has not helped students, has added hours of work and legal fees, and has mostly been a source of disputes over funding and service costs. McLure said her school has worked with more than 15 districts and has always been able to reach agreements, though the first year of the requirement took substantial time and money. Committee members asked about the original purpose of the law, unsigned MOUs, and whether disputes could be resolved without the requirement.
A representative from the Department of Education said the MOU was originally proposed to address reports that some students were not getting services on time and to provide some oversight, but the department has no authority to order charter schools or districts to agree and no appeal process if they cannot. The department also said it does not currently audit charter school special education services because it lacks authority to monitor charter schools directly, and it urged the committee to consider some alternative oversight if the MOU requirement is repealed. The hearing on HB 222 was then closed, and the committee announced it would begin the hearing on HB 699 after a short break.
FL
Transcript Highlights:
- instructional personnel to help equip more teachers, especially at that preschool level, and paraprofessionals
- In terms of the paraprofessionals and their microcredentials, it's so important.
Summary:
The Senate Education Pre-K-12 Committee heard and passed two autism-related bills. SB 112, by Senator Harrell, would expand autism screening and referral grants, extend Early Steps services from age three to age four, designate the University of Florida autism center as a statewide hub, create grants for autism-focused charter schools and summer programs, and establish an autism microcredential for educators and paraprofessionals. Three technical or clarifying amendments were adopted, and the bill received support from Autism Speaks, The Arc of Florida, Foundation for Florida’s Future, and Miami-Dade County Commissioner Raquel Regalado, who emphasized early intervention and the need for training and expanded services. The bill was reported favorably by committee vote.
The committee then considered SB 102, by Senator Gaetz, which would direct the Department of Education to create a workforce credential for students with autism spectrum disorder, including badges for job skills and workplace safety, and require reporting on outcomes such as employment after graduation. An amendment was adopted to allow students on a modified curriculum before formal diagnosis to participate and to require coordination with the Florida Center for Students with Unique Abilities and OSHA. Testimony from Amy Weatherby of the FSU Autism Institute and CARD strongly supported the bill, stressing the importance of employment outcomes and early preparation, while other organizations also supported it. SB 102 was reported favorably, and the committee adjourned after Senator Harrell was recorded as voting in the affirmative on SB 112.
NH
Transcript Highlights:
- Back those days they really didn't call them paraprofessionals yet. They called them teacher aides.
- Back those days they really didn't call them paraprofessionals yet. They called them teacher aides.
- You know, some districts are increasing dramatically in the cost of a paraprofessional.
- In the district I have, a small district, we had over a half a million dollars in paraprofessionals.
- Um, paraprofessionals, that one is a legal obligation in many, many IEPs.
AL
Alabama 2026 1st Special Session
Alabama Senate County and Municipal Government Committee Jan 14th, 2026
County and Municipal Government
Transcript Highlights:
- the other night with some of my teachers, bus drivers, well, teachers, bus drivers, all the paraprofessionals
- the other night with some of my teachers, bus drivers, well, teachers, bus drivers, all the paraprofessionals
- the other night with some of my teachers, bus drivers, well, teachers, bus drivers, all the paraprofessionals
- the other night with some of my teachers, bus drivers, well, teachers, bus drivers, all the paraprofessionals
Bills:
HB117, HB17, HB22, HB153, HB140, HB117, HB17, HB22, HB153, HB140, SB12, SB42, SB93, SB28, SB35, SB134, SB12, SB42, SB93, SB28, SB35, SB134
Keywords:
procurement, county commission, administrative savings, public services, government efficiency, HB17, municipal audits, municipal audit clarification act, municipal finance, local government, city council, mayor, city manager, Department of Examiners of Public Accounts, independent public accountant, annual audit, biennial audit, annual report, financial accountability, public records
AR
Arkansas 2026 1st Special Session
PUBLIC HEALTH- HOUSE HEALTH SERVICES SUBCOMMITTEE Jun 25th, 2026
Transcript Highlights:
- those agencies and those very serious mental health conditions, you could also provide those paraprofessional
- Those serious mental health conditions could also receive paraprofessional services.
- They cannot provide the paraprofessional service.
Summary:
The House Health Services Subcommittee met to approve the October 7, 2024 minutes and then shifted to behavioral health as the main topic. Representatives Woodridge and Vaught described the work of the behavioral health working group, saying Arkansas needs a more proactive system that improves access, reduces red tape, and focuses on a few achievable policy changes for the 2027 session rather than many bills. Members discussed barriers such as low reimbursement, workforce shortages, licensing and credentialing hurdles, rural access problems, and the need to better use community providers, compacts, and step-down services.
Director Paula Stone of DHS’s Office of Substance Abuse and Mental Health gave a detailed overview of the behavioral health system. She said Medicaid pays for more than 75% of behavioral health services in Arkansas and explained that when people are jailed or admitted to the state hospital, Medicaid generally stops, leaving state general revenue to cover care. She described current efforts including family-centered treatment for children, community reintegration group homes, a new adolescent substance use disorder residential unit, expanded community mental health center contracts, a secured restoration unit to reduce state hospital backlogs, and an IMD waiver to allow Medicaid payment for certain residential services. She also said DHS is working on crisis services, forensic evaluations, and provider rebidding in areas previously served by ERISA.
Members asked about reimbursement for jail services, the lack of a statewide behavioral health dashboard, civil commitment options, crisis stabilization units, and whether Arkansas should expand step-down or long-term facilities for people who cannot safely return to the community. Stone said the state hospital backlog remains significant, average stays are still about 14 months, and crisis stabilization units have had mixed success, with Fort Smith and Jonesboro performing better than Fayetteville and Little Rock. The meeting ended with a commitment to continue the work, with more substantive discussion planned for August.
AR
Arkansas 2026 1st Special Session
PUBLIC HEALTH- HOUSE HEALTH SERVICES SUBCOMMITTEE Jun 25th, 2026
Transcript Highlights:
- those agencies and those very serious mental health conditions, you could also provide those paraprofessional
- Those paraprofessional services are an additional service that those other independently licensed practitioners
- They cannot provide the paraprofessional service.
Summary:
The House Health Services Subcommittee met to approve the October 7, 2024 minutes and then shifted to behavioral health as the main topic. Representatives Wooldridge and Vaught described the work of the behavioral health working group, saying Arkansas needs a more proactive system focused on access, workforce, reimbursement, and reducing red tape. Members raised concerns about provider shortages, licensure barriers, rural access, reimbursement rates, jail-based services, non-emergency transport, and the need for step-down options and crisis diversion before people end up in jail or the state hospital.
DHS Director Paula Stone outlined the behavioral health system, emphasizing that Medicaid pays for most behavioral health services in Arkansas and that many services cannot be billed once a person is in jail or the state hospital. She described current efforts including family-centered treatment for children, community reintegration group homes, a new adolescent substance use disorder unit, forensic evaluation and restoration changes, and a planned IMD waiver to allow Medicaid payment for certain psychiatric and residential services. She also explained the backlog at the state hospital and in forensic restoration, the role of therapeutic communities, and the challenges of serving rural and difficult-to-serve populations.
Members asked about crisis stabilization units, civil commitment, dashboards for bed availability, and whether Arkansas should expand step-down or long-term facilities. Stone said the state has supported crisis stabilization units in several cities, with mixed results, and noted that Fort Smith and Jonesboro have been more successful than Fayetteville and Little Rock. She said DHS does not yet have a statewide bed dashboard but sees it as a useful tool. The meeting ended with agreement that the discussion was a starting point and that the committee would continue the work, tentatively in August, to develop policy ideas for the 2027 session.
AR
Arkansas 2026 Regular Session
PUBLIC HEALTH- HOUSE HEALTH SERVICES SUBCOMMITTEE Jun 25th, 2026
Transcript Highlights:
- those agencies and those very serious mental health conditions, you could also provide those paraprofessional
- They cannot provide the paraprofessional service.
- They cannot provide the paraprofessional service.
Summary:
The House Health Services Subcommittee met to approve the October 7, 2024 minutes and then shifted to a broad discussion of behavioral health policy, taking up work previously handled by a behavioral health working group. Representatives Wooldridge and Vaught described major gaps in Arkansas behavioral health care, emphasizing access problems, workforce shortages, rural service barriers, low reimbursement, and the need to move from a reactive crisis system to more proactive community-based care. Members discussed possible 2027-session priorities such as reducing red tape, improving provider licensing and supervision pathways, expanding billing codes and reimbursement structures, and considering interstate compacts and other workforce fixes.
A major focus was the state’s crisis and forensic system, including long waits for competency evaluations, the backlog at the Arkansas State Hospital, and the use of county jails for people awaiting treatment. DHS Director Paula Stone explained that Medicaid pays for most behavioral health services, but cannot pay for services in jails or state hospitals because those individuals are treated as inmates of public institutions, leaving state general revenue to cover much of that cost. She outlined DHS efforts including secured restoration beds, therapeutic communities, community mental health center contracts for jail-based services, and plans for an institution-for-mental-disease waiver that could allow Medicaid payment for certain hospital-based services.
Members also discussed crisis stabilization units, with DHS noting that Fort Smith and Jonesboro have been more successful than Fayetteville and Little Rock, largely because of location, partnerships, and law enforcement coordination. Questions covered reimbursement for county jails, step-down facilities, civil commitment options, non-emergency behavioral health transportation, and whether DHS should create a bed-availability dashboard similar to hospital systems. DHS said it does not currently have such a dashboard but is exploring the idea. The meeting ended with a commitment to continue the work, with more detailed discussion planned for August, and the subcommittee adjourned.
FL
Florida 2025 Regular Session
March 5, 2025 - 01:30 PM
Transcript Highlights:
- philosophical concerns, and I think we should generally support the creation and the nurturing of paraprofessionals
- And if they believe that through the employment of paraprofessionals that they can do that, and that
Summary:
The Health Professions and Programs Subcommittee met with a quorum and heard two bills. HB 649 would remove the current written physician protocol requirement for certified registered nurse anesthetists, allowing CRNAs to practice autonomously. The sponsor and supporters argued the change would modernize Florida law, address anesthesia workforce shortages, keep graduates in the state, and improve access especially in rural areas; opponents, including the Florida Medical Association and a cardiologist, warned that physician oversight is important for patient safety and that anesthesia complications can arise quickly. After debate, the committee passed HB 649 favorably by a vote of 12 yeas and 6 nays.
The committee then heard HB 723, which requires the Department of Health, working with school districts, to develop informational materials on early detection of type 1 diabetes and have schools notify parents within the first 30 school days about those materials. The sponsor said the goal is to help parents recognize warning signs earlier and avoid emergency diagnoses such as diabetic ketoacidosis, with minimal fiscal impact because the materials would be distributed digitally. Members generally supported the bill and discussed timing and distribution methods, suggesting the notice not get lost in back-to-school paperwork. HB 723 passed unanimously, 18 yeas and 0 nays, and was reported favorably.
MN
Minnesota 2025 1st Special Session
Seclusion Working Group - 10/08/25
Minnesota Senate Floor Meeting
Transcript Highlights:
- Uh, in my system, for example, I'm hearing a lot of concerns from teachers and paraprofessionals around
- But um I'm actually here today to share my experience as a former paraprofessional who did the physical
- Uh, some days it could be that a child's preferred paraprofessional or staff member wasn't there that
- Uh, some days it could be that a child's preferred paraprofessional or staff member wasn't there that
- But what's the pathway to get us to a better place where everybody feels we have supportive policies?
MN
Minnesota 2025 1st Special Session
Senate Floor Session - Part 1 - 05/18/25
Minnesota Senate Floor Meeting
Transcript Highlights:
- Hispanic workers represent 18.6% of the U.S. workforce but make up 20.3% of paraprofessional workers
- Be rest assured, members, that I am strongly supporting paraprofessionals. I think we all do.
- Paraprofessionals, hourly workers, are incredibly important in our school districts.
- Senator Nelson said he strongly supports paraprofessionals.
- He said the discussion is not about whether paraprofessionals are worthwhile, because they are.
MN
Transcript Highlights:
- who manage the library media center; most are either licensed media specialists, teachers, or paraprofessionals
- who manage the library media center; most are either licensed media specialists, teachers, or paraprofessionals
- who manage the library media center; most are either licensed media specialists, teachers, or paraprofessionals
- And if it's not a licensed media specialist, it's often a teacher without a media license or a paraprofessional
- And just, you know, this idea that a paraprofessional can do what needs to be done in a media center