About ParaEducators Video Series Classroom teachers are often confused about what their professional relationship to the paraeducator is. This video series answers these and many other questions. The Evolution of the Para Paraeducators used to serve students with special needs only in resource rooms or self-contained classrooms, but today more and more paras work in the general classroom. In many cases, paras have become absolutely necessary to fulfill this charge. Support Options for Students Schools have many options for supporting students with special needs, many of which can be used in conjunction with each other.
Paras can often make the general education classroom the least restrictive placement for a student.
The Impact of Inclusion on Paraeducators Paras were first hired in the 50's and 60's to perform clerical tasks and routine duties so teachers could spend more time working with students. As the number of students served by special education grew, so did the number of paras filling expanded student support roles. Paras now spend most of their time apart from special education teachers, working in general education classrooms. We now have around a million paras in the United States, an all-time high. Paraeducators serve a variety of student needs within special education, Title I, ESL, at-risk, and other programs.