Resolve, To Ensure That Maine Teachers and Paraprofessionals Who Work with Children with Autism Spectrum Disorders Are Highly Qualified
Maine Legislature, Session 125, LD 0715
Committee Amendment CA_A_H115 (House)

COMMITTEE AMENDMENT" A" to H.P. 546, L.D. 715, "Resolve, To Ensure 
That Maine Teachers and Paraprofessionals Who Work with Children with Autism 
Spectrum Disorders Are Highly Qualified" 
Amend the resolve by striking out the title and substituting the following: 
'Resolve, To Ensure That Maine Teachers and Paraprofessionals Who Work with 
Children with Autism Spectrum Disorders Are Appropriately and Adequately 
Prepared' 
Amend the resolve in the emergency preamble in the 3rd Whereas paragraph in the 
2nd line (page 1, line 6 in L.D.) by striking out the following: "highly qualified" and 
inserting the following: 'appropriately and adequately prepared' 
Amend the resolve in the emergency preamble in the 4th Whereas paragraph in the 
2nd line (page 1, line 8 in L.D.) by striking out the following: "highly qualified" and 
inserting the following: 'appropriately and adequately prepared' 
Amend the resolve by striking out all of section 1 and inserting the following: 
'Sec. 1. The State Board of Education and the Department of Education 
to study teachers and paraprofessionals who work with children with autism 
spectrum disorders. 
Resolved: 
That the State Board of Education and the 
Department of Education shall conduct a study to ensure that teachers and 
paraprofessionals who work with children with autism spectrum disorders are 
appropriately and adequately prepared. The department shall convene a work group with 
broad stakeholder representation. The purpose of the work group is to analyze the 
qualifications of teachers and paraprofessionals who work with children with autism 
spectrum disorders and to make recommendations that will assist the department in 
ensuring that the teachers and paraprofessionals are appropriately and adequately 
prepared. The work group shall: 
1. Examine and recommend the minimum level of competencies that regular 
educators, special educators and paraprofessionals need to provide educational services to 
students with autism spectrum disorders; 
COMMITTEE AMENDMENT 
~~,. 
COMMITTEE AMENDMENT"~ "to H.P. 546, L.D. 715 
2. Examine and recommend specific standards for paraprofessional superV1SlOn, 
including, but not limited to, daily progress monitoring, problem solving and philosophy; 
3. Examine and recommend strategies for the implementation of a paraprofessional 
structure, including basic education technician I, II and III standards; and 
4. Define a designation for a paraprofessional to be considered appropriately and 
adequately prepared to provide special education services; and be it further' 
Amend the resolve in section 2 in the 2nd line (page 1, line 36 in L.D.) by striking out 
the following: "the Department of Education by November 1, 2011. The" and inserting 
the following: 'the State Board of Education and the Department of Education by 
November 1, 2011. The State Board of Education and the' 
SUMMARY 
This amendment strikes out the "highly qualified" language of the resolve and 
replaces it with "appropriately and adequately prepared" to eliminate confusion with 
federal law. The amendment also includes the State Board of Education, along with the 
Department of Education, to share areas of responsibility. 
COMMITTEE AMENDMENT