On and after July 1, 2013, the Commissioner of Education shall establish a School Paraprofessional Advisory Council, which on and after July 1, 2021, shall be known as the School Paraeducator Advisory Council, consisting of

1. (1) one paraeducator from each state-wide bargaining representative organization that represents paraeducators with instructional responsibilities,
2. (2) one representative from each of the exclusive bargaining units for certified employees, chosen pursuant to section 10-153b,
3. (3) the most recent recipient of the Connecticut Paraeducator of the Year Award,
4. (4) two representatives from the regional educational service centers, appointed by the Commissioner of Education, and
5. (5) a school administrator, appointed by the Connecticut Federation of School Administrators. The council shall hold quarterly meetings and advise, at least quarterly, the Commissioner of Education, or the commissioner's designee, of the needs for (A) professional development and the training of paraeducators and the effectiveness of the content and the delivery of existing training for such paraeducators, (B) appropriate staffing strategies for paraeducators, and (C) consideration of other relevant issues relating to paraeducators. The council shall report, annually, in accordance with the provisions of section 11-4a, on the recommendations given to the commissioner, or the commissioner's designee, pursuant to the provisions of this section, to the joint standing committee of the General Assembly having cognizance of matters relating to education.

(June Sp. Sess. P.A. 07-3, S. 29; P.A. 11-136, S. 11; P.A. 13-10, S. 1; P.A. 21-95, S. 12; P.A. 24-41, S. 25.)

History: June Sp. Sess. P.A. 07-3 effective July 1, 2007; P.A. 11-136 deleted “, at least quarterly,” and added “hold quarterly meetings and annually” re council to advise Commissioner of Education and replaced “at least quarterly” with “annually” re report on recommendations, effective July 1, 2011; P.A. 13-10 added “On and after July 1, 2013”, designated existing provision re members as Subdiv. (1) and amended same to replace “representative” with “school professional”, added Subdivs. (2) to (5) re additional members, replaced “annually” with “, at least quarterly,”, designated existing provision re training as Subpara. (A) and amended same to add “professional development and” and make a conforming change, and added Subparas. (B) and (C) re council to advise Commissioner of Education re staffing strategies and other relevant issues, effective July 1, 2013; P.A. 21-95 added “, which on and after July 1, 2021, shall be known as the School Paraeducator Advisory Council,”, effective July 1, 2021; P.A. 24-41 replaced references to school paraprofessional with references to paraeducator and made a technical change, effective July 1, 2024.