Charter School Success is now inSchools
Title I Paraprofessional Requirements
GRANTS MANAGEMENT
5/1/2026
It’s soon to be hiring season, and everyone is looking for top notch candidates for next year. If you have a Title I schoolwide campus and are considering hiring any paraprofessionals, this article is for you! Last year, TEA clarified expectations from USDE that all instructional paraprofessionals on a schoolwide campus must meet highly qualified (HQ) criteria starting with the 2025-26 school year. When hiring for next year, you will want to make sure these HQ qualifications are on job postings and that candidates you select for interview are able to be highly qualified before school starts.
What is an instructional paraprofessional?
The employer is responsible for documenting that teachers and paraprofessionals who work with students in an academic role have the content expertise to properly educate students. The bottom line is that you do not want paraprofessionals working with students on academic skills that they do not have mastery of themselves. Please see the link to the one-pager below for a bulleted list of job duties that are considered “instructional.” Paraprofessionals whose only duties are translation or parent involvement are not classified as instructional.
Any paraprofessional who works in any instructional capacity (in any program and regardless of fund source) on a campus with a Title I schoolwide program must meet one of the highly–qualified requirements in the next section. For schools that operate a targeted-assisted program, the paraprofessional must meet highly-qualified only if paid whole/in part by Title I funds.
What credentials are required to meet Title I highly-qualified?
Prior to providing services, Title I, Part A paraprofessionals must have a high school diploma or its recognized equivalent AND meet one of the following requirements:
Complete at least two years of study at an institution of higher education (defined as completion of 48 semester hours or equivalent trimester hours) of college coursework or an applicable number of semester hours as defined by the institution of higher education attended, whichever is less; or
Possess an associate (or higher) degree; or
Meet a rigorous standard of quality and can demonstrate, through a local academic assessment— Knowledge of and the ability to assist in instructing reading, writing, and mathematics; or Knowledge of and the ability to assist in instructing reading readiness, writing readiness, and mathematics readiness, as appropriate. (Region 10 offers assessments, or contact your local ESC).
Additionally, within one year of being hired, Title I, Part A paraprofessionals must have the Educational Aide state certification. Note: Charter school personnel are exempt from the state certification requirement unless it is required by their charter with TEA or local policies and procedures.
The inSchools Federal team works with our HR team to document HQ requirements prior to hiring. Our Federal team can assist our partner schools with low-cost test prep resources.
What documentation is needed?
TEA provides a form to document the highly-qualified status of each instructional paraprofessional on a Title I schoolwide campus. Instructional paraprofessionals who have already been on a schoolwide campus should already have the credentials. Prior to 2025-26, paras were only required to be HQ if paid with Title I money. But beginning in 2025-26, the highly-qualified requirement took effect for ANY instructional paraprofessional on a Title I schoolwide campus. If you are not in compliance, act now to get your instructional paras highly qualified, or re-evaluate their employment status for next year.
Title I Requirements for Paraprofessionals Documentation Form (Form should be completed prior to the 2026-27 school year and retained in the new employee’s HR record. It does not have to be redone annually.)
A word of caution!
Charter schools should keep these requirements in mind when transferring personnel or changing the fund source of a position as well. It is worth noting that Title I is the only federal grant fund to which this requirement applies, but it is the campus’ Title I status for 2026-27 that sets the rules. Even aides funded by special ed, for example, must meet Title I HQ if working on a schoolwide campus.
It may be necessary to try to get your current paras tested prior to the end of school to avoid having to pay them to work in the summer. Title I funds can be used to pay for testing or extra duty time for paras to get HQ, but a grant amendment might be needed to the 6100 budget/schedule! The amendment deadline for the ESSA grant is June 2, 2026!
Need help?
Please contact inSchools: