Although paraeducators are increasingly and extensively involved with the education of students with disabilities by providing instructional and related services, they generally enter the school setting without formal training or preparation in working with students with disabilities. The purpose of this article is to provide an overview of legal issues associated with the presence of paraeducators in special education, to discuss practice considerations, and to provide future direction concerning paraeducators in the field of special education. With regard to legal considerations, paraeducators must be provided for students with disabilities (including one-on-one services) if such services are necessary in order for a student to receive a free, appropriate public education, and paraeducators must be qualified to perform assigned services as indicated in Individualized Education Programs. Practice considerations include the need for educational agencies, especially at the state level, to take a proactive role in setting qualification standards and ensuring the availability of high-quality training opportunities.
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