The highly qualified guidelines for Title I paraprofessionals should be attained before being hired
by the LEA.
These qualifications must include: Have a secondary school diploma or its recognized equivalent
AND Completed 60 semester credit hours at a regionally accredited institution of higher
education -orObtained an associate’s (or higher) degree -orMet a rigorous standard of quality
and be able to demonstrate, through a formal State or local academic assessment, knowledge of
and the ability to assist in instructing, reading, writing, and mathematics (or, as appropriate,
reading readiness, writing readiness, and mathematics readiness).
In Arkansas, the formal test accepted is the Educational Testing Services (ETS) Parapro
Assessment” and applicants must obtain a passing score of 457.