1.
What is the job description of the support professional?
*See attached job descriptions
2.
Are support professionals allowed to see IEP’s and other confidential student documents?
Yes. As defined by federal law, anyone who has a “legitimate educational interest” is permitted to see the student’s IEP. Classroom support professionals are expected to assist in the implementation of all the students’ IEP’s in their assigned classrooms; therefore they do have a “legitimate educational interest”.
As stated above, the role of the support professional also includes assisting with clerical duties. Therefore, support professionals are allowed to make copies of IEP’s as directed by their teacher and/or building principal.
3.
Who makes the support professional’s daily schedule?
Support professionals are to collaborate with their assigned classroom teacher to develop their daily schedule. Schedules should reflect maximum time spent working with students. Clerical duties are typically done before and after the students leave for the day or as deemed appropriate by the supervising teacher or building principal. All schedules will be approved by the building principal.
4.
If a student in the classroom has a one on one support professional assigned to them, can the classroom support professional work with them also?
Yes. The classroom support professional should be familiar with the needs of all the students in the classroom. They are allowed to work with students who may have another support professional assigned to them as per the direction of the classroom teacher.
5.
Can a classroom support professional bill ACCESS for specific students?
Yes. If part of the assigned duties of a classroom support professional include working one on one with a student during a time period in the day, they can submit ACCESS billing logs for this student. If a classroom support professional is being directed to submit ACCESS billing, they will be notified by the special education office.

6.
What is the support professional’s responsibility regarding checking and grading student work?
As stated in the job description, a support professional is allowed to check papers or student work. They are not however permitted to issue a letter grade. All letter grades need to be issued by the teacher of record that is highly qualified in the subject area being graded.
7.
Are support professionals allowed to administer tests?
A support professional is allowed to read a test to a student(s) that need it or to monitor a student(s) while they are taking a test. The special education teacher should determine the degree of adaptation or modification needed to the test according to the student’s identified needs.
8.
Are support professionals supposed to attend IEP meetings?
While there is nothing to prohibit a support professional from attending an IEP meeting, they are not a legally required member. Due to time and scheduling constraints, support professionals do not typically attend IEP meetings unless requested by the teacher or building administrator to do so.
9.
Are support professionals allowed to “help out” with building duties?
Support professionals who are assigned to special education classrooms have a primary responsibility to be with the students in these programs. If a building principal and classroom teacher determine a time in the day that it would be appropriate for a support professional to assist with other building duties such as bus duty, hall duty etc. that is permissible.
10.
If a support professional is assigned to a special education classroom, are they allowed to work with regular education students too?
Yes. Support professionals are allowed to work with all students under the direction of their teacher and building principal.